Digitized by the Internet Arciiive

in

2008

witii

IVIicrosoft

funding from

Corporation

Iittp://www.arcliive.org/details/1812napoleoniinr00vere

*^l8l2"

NAPOLEON

IN RUSSIA

Hit
GAINSBOROUGH.

l!y

Walter Armstrong, Director

With 62 Photoof the National (iallery, Ireland.

gravures and 10 I.ithograph.s in Colour. 5 ss. net.

lEONARDO DA VINCI. From

the French of EunfeNF.

In 2 vols., with 20 Photogravures, 26
Mr.sTZ.
Coloured Plates, and about 200 Text Illustrations.

2S. net.

By

MEISSONIER.

Greard.

Vai.i.eky C. O.

From

by Lady Mary Loyd and Florence

Si.MMONDs. With 38 Full-page Plates, and 250
Text Illustrations. 1 i6j. net.
the French

By Corrauo

CORREGGIO.

Fi.oKKxcE SiM.MONDS.
21 Full-page Plates in
in

Text.

Ricci.

With

i6

Translated by
Photogravures,

Colour, and 160 Illustrations

2s. net.

REMBRANDT.

Edited by
By Emile .Michel.
Wkdmore. With 76 Full-page Plates
and2so Te.\t Illustrations. 2 2S. net.
Fk'i;iii;kk K

NEW LETTERS OF NAPOLEON

I.

Omitted from the

Edition published under the auspices of Napoleon

Translated from the French by Lady Mary
III.
I.iivi).

15.V.

net.

NAPOLEON AND THE FAIR SEX. From

of

Fr^d^kic Massdx.

LONDON
21

With a

the French

Portrait.

6s.

WILLIA.M HEINEMANN,

Bedi'ord Street, W.C.

//^ A"^^^-t:W^^^

4C

1812"

NAPOLEON

VASSILI

IN RUSSIA

VERESTCHAGIN

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
R.

Illustrated

from

WHITEING
Sketches

and Paintings

the

Author

LONDON
WILLIAM HEINEMANN
1899

Thii Edition
till

enjoys

countries

copyright in

signatory

Berne Treaty, and

is

to

the

not to be

imported into the United States

cf America,

CONTENTS
Page
Introduction

On

Progress in Art

Realism

I
II

i6

24

Napoleon

53

The Burniiig of Moscow

iFo

III

The Cossacks

220

IV

The Grande

227

I'/te

Ariiiee

Marshals

256

FULL- PA GE ILL US TRA TIONS

Vassili Verestchagin

frontispiece

72

Dispatch

Russian Grenadiers

At Borodino

78

92
108

Looking toivards Moscow

128

Disillusion

On

Despair

At

..
..

the IVay

Bivouac

Home

a Council of

Armed

Peasant

War
.

In a Russiun Church

Ney and the

Staff

144

154
.

176

....

162

186
.

196

252

"I8l2"

NAPOLEON

IN RUSSIA

INTRODUCTION
The

following pages are not offered to the reader as a

history of the invasion of Russia

They

by Napoleon.

are

on which

but the statement of the basis of observation

M. Verestchagin has founded his great series of pictures

These pictures are now to be
illustrative of the campaign.
exhibited in this country, and the painter has naturally
desired to show us from what point of view he has approached the study of his subject one of the greatest
especially for a
subjects in the whole range of history

Russian
case

The

artist.

that

point of view

of the Realist

and

of his

this

is

inevitably

the

conception

deavour.

He

has ever painted war as

one of

an effect sought
"

true " in

all

in

its effects,

and

for

itself.

He

has tried

said to constitute a powerful plea

support of the Tsar's Rescript to the Nations

of peace.

My

meaning

will

and as

in

be

His
in

favour

be best illustrated by a short

sketch of M. Verestchagin and his

soldier,

to

his representations of the battle-field.

work may thus be

his

gives

whole career and enit is, and therefore

though not necessarily as

unity to

in its horrors, as

in

consideration

work, as

painter, as

traveller.

XATOLKOX

He was

born

in tlic

I\

RUSSIA

pro\-incc of

Novgorod,

an

artist

the father wished to

As

marines.

became
school,

the shortest

both.

and

passed

le

and

c\-cntuall)-

He

Arts.

out

the difficulty, he

cjf

work-hours at the naval

his

won

left

the naval school as

a silver

medal

at the

working at
scholar,

first

Academy

of Fine

entered the service, but only for a short time,

and he was
it

way

his play-hours at a school of design,

each so well that he

1842, of a

in

The son wished to be

make him an officer of

well-to-do family of landowners.

still

three }-cars under twenty

to devote himself

wholly to

when he

quitted

art.

He was a hard-working student, though he always

showed a strong disposition to insist on working in his own
way. When Gerome sent him to the antique, he was half
the time slipping

away

to nature.

He

played truant from

In the meanyou could hardly

the Athenian marbles to flesh and blood.

time he was true to the instinct

call

a principle

it

of

of subjects.

search

Asnicres or
in Persia,

artistic

l^arbi/.on,

among

as yet

wandering from the beaten track

Every vacation was passed, not
but

in

the far east of Europe, or even

those ragged races not

black and white.

He had

)'et

set

soon

t(j

enter

it

down

in

been on the borders of a

quite fresh field of observation in these journeys

A\as

in

at

for a full harvest of

new

and he

impressions.

It

1867 Russia was sending an army into Central Asia,

to punish the marauding Turkomans for the fiftieth time, and

was

in

General Kauffman,
to

fight,

who commanded

as an art volunteer.

but simply to look on.

chagin

at

once

It

expedition, and

in

many

reconnaissance on his

an

Asia to

artistic

its

core.

invited the painter

it,

He was not to
was the very thing; Veresttook service on these terms with the

accompany him

faithfully

following

its

own

fortunes, with

account; he saw


IXTRODUCTIOX
He

returned from a second Asiatic journey to settle at

Munich

and here he built his first " openyou are to paint out-door scenes," he says,
" your models must sit in the open " and so he fashioned
a movable room on wheels, running on a circular tramway,
and open to sun and air on the side nearest the centre of
the circle, where the model stood.
The artist, in fact,
worked in a huge box with one side out, while the thing he
saw was in the full glare of day and by means of a simple
mechanical contrivance he made his room follow the
for three years

" If

air studio."

shifting light.

After a long rest at Munich, he was impatient for action

once more, and

in

Verestchagin

1873 he set off for British India.

filled

They form

studies.

one entire exhibition with his Indian

a definite

part

of his collection, a

section of his life-work.

Amazing studies they are. The
end of his sojourn coincided with the visit of the Prince of
Wales, and he saw India both at its best and at its worst.
In one immense canvas he has represented the royal entry
into Jeypore, the 1^'ince and his native entertainer on a
richly-caparisoned elephant, and a long line of lesser mag-

nates similarly
a

mosque

is

mounted

noble

in

mastery of technique.
Ellora

all

furniture

He made

in

the rear.

and

the great show-places

of priests,

scene of prayer

in

amazing
The Temple of Indra, the Caves of

feeling,

deities,

it

exhibits an

are

there, with

their

monsters, and men-at-arms.

a prodigious journey, from St.

Petersburg by

Constantinople to Egypt, Hindostan, the Himalayas, and

Thibet.

On

his return

he saw a great national subject at

the Russo-Turkish War.

it all, still

He

as a civilian in

He

last

followed the armies and saw

name, but as a soldier in fact.

it, both
from patriotism and

could not keep out of

NAPOLEON

from

artistic

RUSSIA

IN

On

conscientiousness.

one

occasion

his

desire to study the effect of a gun-boat in the air nearly-

cost

him

cross the
it

his

When

the Russians were preparing to

opi)osite

Rustchuk, their engineers found

h'fc.

Danube

almost impossible to carry on their surveys

for a bridge,

owing to the proximity of the Turkish gun-boats. Some

men were accordingly sent out to lay fixed torpedoes
across the river to prevent the approach of the gun-boats.
But they themselves required protection while engaged in
the service, and a few torpedo-launches were accordingly
ordered to patrol the river for that purpose. They were
not to wait to be attacked, but to boldly assume the offensive, and sink or drive off the big gun-boats.
It was a
most dangerous duty, and when Verestchagin asked permission to serve in one of the launches the officer in command tried to deter him. " Russia has many hundreds of
officers like me," he said, " but not two painters like you."
Verestchagin, however, was allowed to have his way. The
launch he chose was very swift it went almost at the
speed of a train. It soon came in sight of one of the gun;

They could
be seen running about the deck shouting and shaking their
The gun-boat turned tail at once, but
fists at one another.
the little torpedo-launch gained on it every moment.
By
whole
Turkish
force
had
time
the
taken
the
alarm,
this
and
boats, to the great terror of the Turkish crew.

fire

was concentrated on the

little

gun-boat and the banks of the

evident she

could

not

live.

launch both from the

under which it was

pushed on, however,

river,

.She

shoved the torpedo under the bows of the Turk, and it

hung fire. It touched her fairly, but the wire connecting
with the fuse had been cut
this,

in

or rather having failed to

away by

half

do

b)' shot.

it,

Having done

the launch was carried

the tide, and just as she got clear of the vessel


INTRODUCTION
the Turks renewed their awful

Verestchagin suddenly

felt

fire

from ship and shore.

if he

a sickening sensation, as

had been roughly pushed, and putting his hand to the place
found a wound that would admit his three fingers. At this
moment the crew of the Russian launch saw another Turkish monitor coming towards them, and firing as she came,
so that they stood a good chance of being caught between
as they might fairly be called in relathese two monsters
However, the launch turned
tion to the size of the launch.
and ran, closely pursued by the nearest gun-boat, which she
had amiably tried to destroy. The pursuer was fast gain-

them

ing on

in their

crippled condition, when, at a turn in

They made
little creek.
The gun-boat could not follow

the river, they saw a

were saved.

for

it

and

for fear of

going aground.
This

incident

nearly

finished

Vcrestchagin's

artistic

He lay between life and death for weeks, but a

devoted Russian nurse brought him round. Of course he
went back to work again as soon as he could move, and in
career.

one way or other saw and painted nearly

all

of the cam-

paign, especially Shipka, and the final rush on Constantinople.

De Lonlay

gives us a characteristic picture of Verest-

chagin at this time.

"

On November

24, 1877,"

at the foot of the great

corps,

commanded by

we were in Bulgaria,
Our little expeditionary

he says,

Balkans.

the brave General

just taken possession of a cit}' after

was

still

"

Daudeville, had

an obstinate

fight,

and

trembling with the excitement of the struggle.

We ran through the deserted streets of the Turkish quarter,

which had been abandoned b}' its inhabitants. Everywhere we saw the same lamentable signs of devastation
and within the
doors broken open, windows smashed
;

\.\P0L1<:0.\

houses, furniture
rags,

RTSSIA

IX

heaps of wearing ap[)arel in

stuffing of the ottomans strewed

in frat^nients,

and a quantity of the

about, the Ikilgarian pillagers having cared only for the

all

Amid

ornamental coverings.

all

nothing but a
Redif,

them of

stripped

alread)-

still

dressed

Suddenl}-, there

who had

their

in

his

came

leaxing

little

them

further on, a

blue tunic, lay on the ground.

by a troop of Cossacks
Turkish runaways. They

clattering

just been hunting the

were rough-looking

lay the

The marauders had

uniforms,

underclothing.

little

confusion

this

bodies of three Redifs and an Arnaut.

fellows, these soldiers in their white linen,

and with

their fur caps browned by the bivouac

and half bare with the wear and tear of the campaign;
but among them I remarked an elegant horseman who
contrasted strongly with the rest of the troop.
He was
dressed half like a soldier and half like a tourist.
He wore
a high Circassian cap in Astrakan fur trimmed with silver.

all in rags,

fires

From

his breast

hung the

officer's cross

of the military order

of St. George,^ a high distinction justl}' envied in Russia.

The handle and

chiselled

in

ej'es,

da)'

the scabbard of his poignard and sabre were

silver.

followed liim a long time with

admiring his loearing. A little

found ni}- unknown once more.
I

a low camp-stool

in a

later

on

in

He was

the

my

same

sitting

on

corner of the grand mosque, and

making a study of the minaret. His aristocratic face, of a

long oval, was ornamented with a beard of a chestnut colour,
and it contrasted strangel)- with the olive complexion and
high cheek-bones of the Mussulman-Cossacks who surrounded him and peeped curiously at the work he was
'

The

cross of St. (icorge, the liiylicst military distinction in Russia,

way on a mere order of the sovereign, but

only after a special inquiry into the circumstances of each case by the

is

not given in the usual

Council of the Order.

INTRODUCTION
doing.

It

reminded

me

of Salvator Rosa working in the

midst of the bandits of the Abruzzi. At this point a

common friend of both of us came on the scene and
presented us to one another.

recovered from the serious

me

had before

Russian painter Basil Verestchagin,

wound

the great

who had but

just

received in the previous

We talked for a long time of Paris and of the war,

Verestchagin complained bitterly of not having been able to
take part in the passage of the Danube, and see the winter

June.

What good
campaign as he had seen the summer one.
luck you had,' he said, to follow Gourko in his expedition
What things you must have
beyond the great Balkans
seen, the massacre at Shipka, and the burning of Eski
If you only knew how it enraged me to be tied
Zara.
down to my bed in the ambulance while the army was
going on!' Then he paid me a few compliments on the
modest drawings which I was sending to the Monde
Illiistre, compliments which touched me very much as they
were offered by such an eminent artist.
" A io^N days after, the
branch of the Cossacks of the
Don to which I was attached, and the regiment of the
Grenadiers of the Guard, entered the pass of the Balkans
'

'

by the route which leads

to

halted on a plateau covered

Statitza.

with

At

nightfall

snow, and

we

where the

We

uere therefore not at

an old Turkish blockhouse and to light up a good fire. There I found Verestchagin again, with Prince Tzerteleff, the former secre-

temperature was below zero.

all disinclined to take refuge

in

and Prince Tchakowski, who were all

following our columns as amateurs. Enveloped in our
bourkas, we talked aw^ay for hours round this bivouac

tary of Ignatieff,

fire,

Verestchagin telling us of his perilous expedition in

Turkestan.

can

still

hear him talking

in

his soft

and

NAPOLEON

quiet voice of

all

fortnight

RUSSIA

those scenes of massacre and carnage

which he had seen with

"A

IN

after,

his
I

own

was

eyes.

had just
army, and there

Plevna, which

at

into the hands of the Russian

saw Verestchagin again. He was staying with General
Skobelefif, governor of the cit}-.
The great artist was
fresh from the terrible battles, and from the scenes of
misery which he had seen in the camps of the Turkish
prisoners, and he was projecting another scries of pictures.
He was therefore, with his usual passion for accurac)',
taking pains to collect arms and uniforms of the cnem)'
as models.
He showed great jo)' when one of the
officers present offered to conduct him to the place in
which the spoils of the garrison of Osman Pacha were
stored.
By the light of a torch carried by a grenadier he
rummaged a long time in this heap of Pcabod)'-Martini
rifles, covered with mud and dust, torn uniforms stained
fallen
I

with blood, blue vests with red lacings of the Nizams, brass-

buttoned tunics and red waistbands of the Redifs,

etc.

Next

morning we separated. Verestchagin followed the colunm

of Skobclcff in its march to Shipka; and I went to Orkanie
to rejoin the corps of General

As
is

Gourko."

a war-painter Verestchagin

a great moralist because he

is

is

a great moralist, and he

He

quite sincere.

exactly what he sees on the battle-field, and he

vance of the French, who are the fathers of

is

paints

fdv in ad-

this species of

composition, in his rendering of the truth, the

whole

truth,

and nothing but the truth, about this bloody sport of kings.
There was a whole wide world of difference in spirit between his little military galler)- and the big one at Versailles.
The earlier PVcnchmen give us prett)' uniforms, a monarch
prancing on his steed in the moment of \ict(>r\', an elcgantl}wounded warrior or two in the foreground, obvioush' in the

INTRODUCTION
"

act of crying,
flight,

Vive

la

France

"

a host in

picturesque

a host in picturesque pursuit, waving banners, and a

great curtain of

smoke

to hide the general scene of butchery,

disgusting

supplementary puffs for

Verestchagin's manner, on the

contrar}-,

breeze of wholesome truthfulness,

lifts

with

and shows us what

in ever)' species

is

below

ever}'

men

passing

detail.

like

this theatrical vapour,

writhing out their lives

of agon)' by shot and bayonet wounds, by

the dry rot of fever,

by the wet

rot of cold

and damp and

by the crows
;

finding their last glance to heaven intercepted

or the vultures, waiting for a meal.

All this

is

very shock-

but looked at in the right way it is supremely moral.

His work is his biograph)'. He has lived every one of

ing,

his pictures,

cost of his

and he has often had

he relates with his pencil he has

just so

many

to study at almost the

All that he represents he has seen

life.

lived.

all

that

These pictures are

chapters detached from his

They

histor)'.

work of an artist of an exceptional nature and

are worth)- of a book written on the critical method of
Sainte-Beuve, a book wherein the man would occup)' a
place at least as considerable as the work itself; for
the one and the other are inseparable.
He is the first
Russian painter who has given his countrymen a true
impression of war something besides those official pictures
where victory is displayed and never defeat. E\en when
are the

he paints victory he never separates

ruin, its misery, its

mourning be)'ond

it

from

relief.

its
I

sadness,

seem

to

its

have

my e)'es, as in a dream, that p)'ramid of

which he met \\'ith somewhere iiTTTTs wanderings, and of which he has made one of his most striking
pictures.
He wrote underneath it, " Dedicated to the
alwa)'s before

piled-u[) skulls

conquerors."

Verestchagin

had

done nothing but draw

painting

NAPOLKOX

lo

had

frii^lUcncd him.

persuade him

IX

RUSSIA

Gcromc and Bida

When

in

vain tried to

from his
second journey to the frontiers of Persia, amony" those
to

bcL;in.

lie

retin-ned

nomadic tribes with changeless manners, who must have

descended from .Abraham, he showed his album and notebooks to the two painters, and they pressed him all the
Bida

more.

said, "

No one draws

a few sketches, one of which

is

like >'ou,"

and he accepted
famous

to be found in his

Bible.

After his Asiatic campaign he had three years' work at

Munich, an enormous and improbable labour, so much so

number and variety
of pictures could not be the work of a single man, and that
Verestchagin had been helped by German painters. The

that his enemies insinuated that such a

calumny reached

St. Petersburg,

At

at the time.

his request

where he was exhibiting

the Art Society of

Munich

Models,
opened a thorough incjuiry into the matter.
porters, everybody that knew anything about it, testified on
oath that no painter but Verestchagin had so much as
entered the

The

atelier.

report, covered all over with the

best signatures of Munich, and with a postscript of the most

flattering kind,

was sent on

to the Russian capital.

When

they gave Verestchagin the surname of the Horace Vernet

of Russia, no doubt the)- thought they were saying something

in

his

j)raise

but he certainly had a right to

calumniated, for the general impression

not admiration

for

left

by

his

feel

work

princes nor glorification of war.

is

In

telling the truth feeling])' about the sufferings of the soldier,

without distinction of nationalit)', with as

much

vancjuished as for the victors, Verestchagin has

terrible

the

human. His pictures, with their poignant

and elevated philosophy, are at the same time a
\^erestchagin is a
satire on ambitious despots.

self essentially

reality

jjity for

shown him-

INTRODUCTION

ii

A pupil of Gcrome, he
seems to have travelled very much in search of himself.
Sometimes he has drawn near to Meissonier, tlien there is
something in him of Gericault and of Courbet, and again he
courtier of nothing but misfortune.

is

a true Impressionist in the best acceptation of the term.

As

a traveller he

saw Samarcand when the

sight

almost as rare and strange as that from the famous

"

was
peak

Samarcand," he says, " was occupied by

the Russians.
Our armies had taken it \\'ithout assault,
after having routed the troops of the Emir.
On reaching
the summit of the hill I stopped there, dazzled, and,
so to speak, awed by astonishment and admiration.
Samarcand was there under my eyes, bathed in verdure.
Above its gardens and its houses were reared ancient
and gigantic mosques, and I who had come from so far
was going to enter the city, once so splendid, which
was the capital of Tamerlane."
On that day, as Vambery has told us, a new era opened for
" The countries and cities once absolutely
Central Asia.
closed to the Western man are now opened before him.
There where a European could not make a single step without danger of death, he now comes and goes as freely as he
pleases, for a Christian army holds the land.
At Tashkend,
Khojend, and at Samarcand there are clubs, cafes, and
churches. Tashkend has its Russian newspaper, and with the
plaintive chant of the Muezzin is mingled the tinkling bell
of the Greek Church, more terrible to the ear of the true believer than the thunder of cannonades.
In the streets of
Bokhara, where, but a few }'ears ago, the author of these
lines heard only Mussulman hymns, the Russian priest, the
Russian soldier, and the Russian merchant are now walkin

Darien."

"

ing together with the pride of the conqueror.

hospital

and a storehouse occupy the once splendid palace where

NAPOLEON

12

Tamerlane used

to

IN

command

RUSSIA

the palace to which

all

the

came
do homage, to which the
and the Indies sent an embassy to beg
for the friendship of the great conqueror, and where the
Turanians, humble and devout, knelt, to strike with their
foreheads the green stone which forms the sacred pedestal
of the throne of Timour.
B)- the victory of the Russian
princes of the East

monarchs of

to

Sjjain

eagles in Central Asia, Islam has received a most terrible

wound. Eor the whole thousand years and more during

which it has struggled with Christianity it has never been
hit so full in the breast.

acts

In our time

Western

civilization

Mussulman Asia from Bj'zantium

and even Mecca and Medina have not escaped

vigorously on

India,

influence.

to
its

Central Asia alone had remained the sanctuary

Mahomedanism. The evil there had not been changed,

and it was not Mecca but Bokhara which passed for the
intellectual centre of Islam.
The ascetic, the member of a
of

religious order, the theologian, sighed for this sacred city,

and the most zealous Mussulmans of the Ottoman Empire,

of Egypt, of Eez, and of Morocco, came to cherish their
fanaticism in its schools and in its mosques. Samarcand is
incontestably the Maracanda of the Greeks, the capital of the
ancient Sogdiana. It was the queen city of the basin of the
Oxus. It lost its preponderance for a time, but recovered
it, and under Tamerlane reached the height of its splendour.
The Mahomedans had a thousand poetic expressions in
praise of its wealth, its abundance of water, its innumerable
canals fed from mountain torrents, and nnining in all
directions through the plain."

When

Himalayas Verestchagin ascended the

Kanchinga.
Kanchinga is twenty-eight thousand odd feet
above the level of the sea, and onh- Mount E\-erest in
on the

highest mountain but one on the face of the globe

INTRODUCTION
Nepaul

palm

the

takes

Mount Everest

is

while Kanchinga

of

it

with

13

29,000

feet.

But

a peak, and no one can get up there

a huge mass of mountain that in-

is

But Verestchagin was at Kanchinga

mountain was covered with ice
get higher than 15,000 feet, and
not
he
could
so
and snow,
Some
for trying to do that.
madman
he was considered a

vites the climber.

in

January,

when

the

neighbourhood, when first they

heard of his project, did all they could to dissuade him
With his characteristic obstinacy he simply
from it.
thanked them for their advice and went on with his preparEnglish

officers

the

in

ations for the ascent.

take the lady

? "

"

At

they said, " you will never

Verestchagin was with him,

least,"

Madame

and had insisted on accompanying him. " That will

depend upon her," said Verestchagin, and his wife went
The
It was a frightful ascent.
with him all the same.
little
very
coolies abandoned them when they had gone a
way these dark-skinned races cannot stand the cold and

had only one man, who carried the colour-box

and drawing-tools, the use of which was Verestchagin's
main object in the journe}\ The painter wanted to go up
By and by
there to study effects of snow and cloud.
even this man's courage failed him, it became so intensely
cold.
They were wading in snow up to the knees in some
The ponies had
places and in others up to the waist.
been left below. There was no house or shelter of any
kind.
They called a halt, and the courier went back to
get help, leaving Verestchagin and his wife on the moun-

at last they

midst of the snow, with only a small wood fire

between them and all but certain death, and with nothing
but snow for meat and drink. They cowered over the fire
till the falling snow put it out, and then for all that day

tain in the

and night

till

far into the

next day they struggled as best

XAPOT.KOX

they could

for

As

life.

I\

a final and desperate effort, Verest-

of his wife,

cha<;in, takin<;' lea\e

RUSSIA

to see ai^ain, roused himself

whom

he never expected
his almost frozen

and drag^jed

limbs down the mcumtain to look for help. When he had

gone a long way he met the coolie who had last left them,
coming back with food and aid, only just in time to save
both the travellers' lives. Verestchagin was so exhausted
that he had to be carried back to where his wife lay.
As
soon as he had recovered, he took out his colour-box and
made some capital sketches of Himalayan effects.
In

88

1,

memorable

exhibition

of

Verestchagin's

was held

in

\^'cnna.

without a parallel

in

the history of art exhibitions

pictures

single painter.

T^or a

Its

was probably
by a

success

whole month the public poured into

the rooms at an average rate of certainly not less than

eight thousand a

day (on the

last

day twent}' thousand

passed or tried to pass through the roomsj,

until, from the

humblest subjects, the peasantry included,
there was no class, and it may be added no nationality,
within the Empire, which had not sent its representatives

Emperor

to

the

to his

Kiinstlerhaus.

papers, to

make

An

attempt,

by

some

political

the enthusiasm of the Slavs for Verest-

chagin a means of exciting the hereditary jealous)- between

them and other races of the h.mpire was

trated.

It

leading

to

is

literally

the

true that the

exhibition

immense crowd, and

was

happil)' frus-

broad thoroughfare

often

blocked

that the announcement,

"

The

by the
gallery

had io be hung outto excuse the

temporary closing of the building two or three times a
is full

to overflowing,"

da}\

The

artist

did not conceal from his friends that he

was proud of the popular and even of the numerical element

in his success, because it showed that his work had touched
those it was above all meant to reach.
He had painted for

IXTRODLXTIOX

15

the people in the highest sense, and their response showed

Du

that he had not laboured in vain.

only was his reward,

for,

reste, this

beyond the payment of

and

this

his bare

expenses, he had no pecuniary interest in the exhibition.

I

may now

regard to his

leave the painter

own guiding

to

speak

for

principles in art.

himself in

The theory

of them will be found in what he has written on Progress

in

Art,

and on Realism.
methods of

relates to right

The

in all that follows relating to the

latest

and

practice,

in

so far as

it

historic stud}' for the painter,

Campaign

of

Moscow,

his greatest series of works.

Richard Whiteing.

is,

his

ON PROGRESS

We

artists

recourse

to

IX

ART

always learn too little, and if we have

books it is only cursorily, and without a
system, as though we held a solid education to be quite
unnecessary for the development of our talents.
It must be
allowed that herein
reasons
is

why

lies

one of the principal, if not the chief,

and more complete development

art in its fuller

checked, and has not yet succeeded

throwing off

in

hitherto thankless part of serving only as the pliable

pleasing companion to

merely

in

societ)',

and

in

taking the lead, not

the sesthetic, but essentially also in the

important psychological development of mankind.

other regions of intellectual

in all

new

life

it

is

means of

ideas arise, and with these the

more
While

admitted that
realizing

perfecting them, yet, in art, especially in sculpture

painting,

and

to a degree also in music, the old i)hrasc

"The

its

and

and
and
still

have done thus, and

In the handling of
therefore must we also do the same."
every subject, an advance in thought may be remarked.
asserts

itself

Our view

great masters

of the world

is

far

from being what

it

was a few

our handiwork itself, in its execution, has

centuries ago
Under such circumstances one
changed and improved.
would think that in the region of art for instance in
painting either a new idea or a more truthful and natural
One is always met by the
style might be possible. But no
;

same

assertion

that,

"Not only
i6

in

the perfect construction

"

ON PROGRESS

ART

IN

17

of their pictures, but also in the subhmity of conception,

the old masters stand on an unapproachable height, and

we can only strive

The culture of

after them."

the

individual, as

of society

as

well

On

the one
on the other improved means
of communication, have disclosed a new horizon, have
presented new problems to artists. These ought also to

has far overstepped

itself,

hand science and

its

level.

literature,

have stimulated to some new

same
done

But, again the

efforts.

*******
way

assertion blocks the

thus,

former

and therefore

"

The

old masters have

In the art of painting, this excessive veneration and

imitation

show themselves to a
nude and in

sentations of the

certain

degree

portraits, for

repre-

in

both these

branches of art reached a high stage of development

But, even here, we are struck by
the old masters.

among

the one-sidedness in the execution

one and the same

sometimes black ground

artificially

the

effect

is

always

a very bright light on a very dark and

an

often

effect

startling,

but

produced, unnatural, and untrue.

Painters' studios were

formerly,

it

is

true, small

and,

But close to
these studios there were courtyards, gardens, and fields,
with a beautiful background, and an abundance and
variety of light, which would have been as effective, and
would have made the black tones clearer and less

owing

to the costliness of gas,

dimly

lighted.

monotonous.

We

know

portraits

age,

is

and that

that

the

darkness of

the

ground

in

only partly attributable to the influence of

On studying
in most cases it is intentional.

a series of old portraits one can only regret that so

technical

old

ability in representing the body,

face,

much

clothes,

NAPOLKON

i8

lace, jewels, etc.,

RUSSIA

IN

should have been harmonized, not with

shadows of a summer's day as we all

sufficiently know and see it, but with a thick artificial
black.
Undoubtedly the new school of painters will

the

airy

light,

render a service to art

b}' takintj

men

of attics and cellars into the clear

out of the darkness

lit^ht

of gardens.

It

monotonous earl)- st}'le, which

showed ever}'thing in the same light of the studio, spares
but in
the artist many difficulties and embarrassments
is

indisputable that

the

art there

ought to be even

less hesitation

than

in

anything

else in the face of technical difficulties.

Turning to historical pictures, we are struck by the

more thoroughly intellectual and characteristic handling of
the subject at the present time.
illustrated

more

History

certainly

is

by amusing anecdotes, and

or less

still

artists

content themselves by depicting that which science has

established, instead

own

researches

of contributing the

but even

now

there

is

results

a very

of their

marked ad-

vance on the usual adulation and the uncritical traditions,

legends, and assertions of the old school.
If painters were to study history, not in a fragmentary

way from
the

become

of dramatic

obsolete, they

of society in

which

is

they would understand that

exaggeration on canvas has

this to that page, if

imitation

would begin

to arouse the interest

the past quite in a different

possible

way from

by means of anecdote,

that

j)icturesque

costumes, and types that arc for the most part fables of
history.

It is

memordraw a smile
changing the sunny holiday of
a more acceptable workda)',

a fact, that hitherto the treatment of

able events by artists has been of a nature to

from the educated.

the

historical

But

picture

b}'

into

truth and simplicity would certainl)' be the gainers.

ON PROGRESS

IN

ART

19

It seems superfluous to mention the extraordinary advance made at the present day in landscape painting, an
advance due to very many causes, but chiefly, of course, to

the development of natural science.

to say that the

childish essays, as
living artists

in

It

not too

is

much

landscapes of the old masters are mere

compared with the works of the leading

this

And

field.

it

is

really difficult to

*******
how and

understand

what

in

direction landscape painting

can be brought to greater perfection,

In the so-called religious painting, imitation of the old

masters

is

But

nearly as great as in portraits.

this

fully

is

explained by the gradual disappearance of religious perception,

and the consequent preference for an old ideal,

new one without the strong

rather than the creation of a

faith of

olden times.

Nevertheless, the

but

even

new

necessary,

school finds

it

not only possible,

ideas, though
hallowed by time and custom, when they evidently contradict the artistic eye and feeling of our time.
First

to

reject

inherited

manner of placing God and the Saints on clouds, as

though these were chairs and stools, and not substances
whose physical condition is well known to us. Second
the custom of representing Christ and the holy men and

the

women
Third

as a

the

Roman

patrician

representation

of

surrounded by

God

in

the

his

style

slaves.

of our

kings, in robes of state, seated on a throne of gold, silver,

and precious

a crown on his head and a

suspended in clouds. Fourth the

stones, with

sceptre in his hand,

all

representation of the Virgin

Mary

in

the costly robe of a

lady of high rank covered with jewels. Possibly religious

painting will not now rise to a second renaissance, but it

may

nevertheless be assumed that the advance in technical

NAPOLKOX

20

knowledge may even be

IX

RUSSIA

Church paintings, if the

and the Saints
in their manifestations in heaven or upon earth, would
replace the dim, poor, and monotonous lit^ht of the studio
by a brilliant, clear. sunn\- atmosphere, and delicate, transuseful in

painter, in his representation of the Deity

*******

parent, airy shadows.

In order to explain our meaning,

we

will cite

some of

the famous religious works of the old masters as examples

well-known pictures by Titian in Venice,

and Rubens in Antwerp, representing the Assumption of
We are not going to speak of the great
the Virgin Mary.
excellence of those two pictures, recognized all the world
If it be also
over, and b)- no means valued too high!)'.
for instance, the

beyond doubt that these pictures have in course of time

become darker, it must nevertheless be understood that
they were executed u ithin four walls, and produced b)- the
traditional contrast of very strong light and very deep
shadow. Now, we ask, whence could these black shadows
If the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
have come?
had perchance taken place in a grotto, or in some dark,
artificially-illumined space, these shadows would be intelligible, but in such case the strong lights would be
Now it was accomplished in free air, and we
inexplicable.
ma)' be allowed to suppose that a beautiful sunny day was
chosen by God for so sublime and solemn an event. So

much

the brighter should the pictures ha\c been painted,

both on account of the direct

Whence

then,

we may

ask,

came

and

reflected

these black tones

sunlight.
?

Well,

they were simply due to the fact that the lights as well as
the shadows were not derived from observation, but invented, as artists say,

from beginning to end

"

by the head," and were therefore

false.

But, can

it

be supposed that

ox PROGRESS

IX

ART

21

great painters like Titian and Rubens should not themselves

have recognized such defects ? Of course this can be as
little understood
as that the great Leonardo da Vinci
should not have remarked the false light in his celebrated
picture

La

of beauty,

when he painted her

Joconde,

in

and an impossible landscape in the background.

Had he, then, no
presentiment of the wonderfull}' tender lights and half
lights, shadows and half shadows, wafted over the face of
a lovely woman by the air?
how everything out of doors
free air, with hard, metallic tones

on the

face,

has quite another appearance about

walls

than within four

it

We

not digress too far with our investigations, and

will

only venture to ask whether

time to

demand

not asked.

so

is

Xo

they were

they not required

Yes, they are.

Then

in

the

evident.

In like manner,

coming

the artist

]3ut these niceties, are

these days from the artist

advance

occurred to no one at that

it

much from

we cannot suppose

that another short-

the artistic conception of such masters could have

in

For instance, in the representawhose personalities are so clear and

escaped their acuteness.

tions of the Apostles,

convincing

in

the

Gospels,

we

and attitudes particularly

modest, humble fishermen, but
faces,

athletic

recognize in their forms,

in Titian's pictures

not

models of
This error was evidently acknow-

appearance.

fine

Italian

ledged even then by the artists themselves, with their usual

tact

and good sense

and Rembrandt went so

far as to

introduce into his religious subjects Dutch market-figures.

But there

is still

a long stride from this to the true render-

ing of the types and costumes recognized at the present

day

as indispensable.

Is this

not an advance

Certainly

NAPOLEON

22
it

IX

RL'SSIA

Wc deny that study has ever }et created talent

on the other hand, we do not for a moment doubt that

is.

but,
it

stimulates

As

it.

regards time and place, the worshij^pers of the earlier

go to such lengths in their imitation, that

they not onl)- work with the same colours and in the same
manner as their adored masters, but also aim at lending to
their pictures that peculiar tint which time has produced
on the canvas. They cover their pictures with some dark

style of painting

shiny colour, in order to give an appearance of age, as

they were painted one, two, or three centuries ago.

tendency

is

even

taught

in

many modern

schools,

if

This

and

have gained great rc[)utatic)n as colourists

merely because they can impart to their productions a
resemblance to those of Rubens, Van D}xk, Rembrandt, or
Velasquez.
Let us hope that the new^ school will go to
indi\i(lual artists

work with greater

deliberation,

not only as regards the

conception of their subject, but also

impossible to treat this aright by
of varnish, a canvas which has

through time.

The young

to bring every event into

and

light selected, in

in

colouring

for

it

is

imitating, with a quantity

become yellowish

school will n^ake

harmony with

order to benefit

it

or reddish

a strict rule

the time, place,

In' all

the

modern

acquisitions oC science, in relation to the characteristics,

costumes,

and

every

psychological

and

ethnographical

detail.

scene which takes

i:)lace in

heaven or on earth should

positively not be painted within four walls, but in the true

morning or mid-da}', e\cning or m"ght. The illusion

and effect produced by the picture cannot but gain by this,
and the language of painting will become more expressive
and intelli<rible.

light of

ON PROGRESS
Perhaps the same might be

said,

of sculpture, and even of music.

more

than

ever,

brothers

should have been united

and

talent.

in

IN

ART

23

with Httle variation,

All

the arts are now,

and sisters, and long ago

one temple of taste, intellect,

REALISM
I

"

realism

Realism

How

"
!

very often do we hear this term,

and yet how seldom does

"l

it

appear

to be applied understandinj^ly.

"What do
tolje?"
lady

in

)'()u

take

realism

asked a well-educated

lierlin,

who had been

talking a great deal about realism

and the

realists in art.

answer,

an

The lady

not seem to be ready with

did

reply that

"

for

she
realist

could
is

he

only

who

represents subjects in a realistic

.hi old Riiiuuii.

manner.

I,

hold, though, that the art of representing subjects in a

manner does not entitle a person to the name of

And, in order lo illustrate my meaning, I may
present the following example
When the war of the British with the Zulus came to an
realistic

realist.

man among the prominent

upon himself the task of
would
take
who
camas that ejiopee enacted between the

end, there could be found no

English

artists

committing to

24

REALISM

25

whites and blacks, and so the Engh'sh had to have recourse

to a very talented French artist.
They gavQ, him money,
and explained to him that such and such were the uniforms
and the arms of the English soldiers, and such and such
were the clothes, or what represents clothes, among the
Zulus.
Then, eye-witnesses to the military encounters
told the Frenchman of what the background consisted
in each case, probably supplementing their accounts with

photographic views.
artist set to

Armed

with this

information

the

work, without having the least personal know-

ledge of the country he was going to reproduce, nor of

the types, the peculiarities, nor the customs of Zululand.

With much assurance the

artist

went on with his task, and

in which there are a

turned out several lively pictures

great
great

many men attacking an enemy defending itself; a

number of dead and wounded much blood much
;

gunpowder-smoke, and
this,

there

is

that kind of thing; yet, with

all

total lack of the principal thing

British nor Zulus to be found in the pictures.

the former

uniforms,

we behold Frenchmen

and

of

instead

negro-models, reproduced

Zulus,
in

Instead of

dressed up
the

various

all

there are no

British

in

ordinary Parisian

more or

less

warlike

attitudes.

Well,

is

Most

artists,

that realism

besides,

reproduce the true light

have really taken place.

up

in

No.

do not take sufficient pains to

under which the events they treat
Thus, such scenes as are taken

the just-mentioned pictures

scenes of

battles

under

the intolerably torrid sun of Africa, are being painted by

European studios. Of course the sunand the numerous peculiar effects dependent on it,
cannot prove successful in such a case, and the effect is
the greyish light of
light,

lost.

XAPOLICON

26
Is

IN

lU'SSIA

*******
that realism, then

go

Certainly not.

and assert that

further,

in

cases where there exists

but a bare representation of a fact or of an event without

idea, without generalization, there can possibly be found

some

qualities of realistic execution, but of realism there

would be none of that intelligent realism, I mean, which

is built on
observation and on facts in opposition to
idealism, which is founded on impressions and afHrmations,
:

established a priori.

Now, can any one bring

that

there

is

no

reproach

the

no generalization

idea,

in

against

my

me

works

Hardly.

Can any one say that I am careless about the types,

about the costumes, about the landscajje of the scenes
represented by me ? That I do not study out beforehand
the personages, the surroundings figuring

Hardly

Can any one say

that a

the North,
walls

is

that,

in

the

can

warm

claim

to

most severe manipu-

the details of creation, and which not only does

am

not alone

in

proved by the following

it.

such an estimate of m}' work,

lines,

my

respect
'

is

from a correspondent to an

American paper/ sent from Paris

exhibition of

"The

enclosure of four

be a representative of

as reciuires the

not exclude an idea, but implies

That

by studio

so.

such realism

(jf all

with me, any scene, taking place

reproduced

Consequentl}',

lating

scene, taking place under the frosty skies of

Hardly

realism

m}' works

the broad sunlight, has been painted

in reality in

light

in

so.

at the

time of the

last

paintings in that city

shown

to certain pictured ideals

Suiidiiy Express, .\\\yA\\\\]\\\y

22.1

1888.

the ideals


REALISM

27

of a painter so foreign to Parisian conventions as Verest-

chagin

is

noted as a pleasing indication of departure from

the gross realism that was beginning to obtain in French

Mr. Dargenty, of the Courrier de PAi't, does not con-

art.

sider Verestchagin as a

him knowledge and

'

seducing

talent,

painter, but concedes to

'

and declares that

prefers the refinement of an idea to the

He

of vulgar realism.'

hopes

for his part

itself in

'

'

he

brutal expression

for a reaction

crowd that precipitated

that the

'

and believes

the exposition

of Mr. Verestchagin 'heralded' a running victory for the

idea."

more notable was the judgment of the London

of December 2, 1887 a view having all the

Still

Christian

more

interest to

me

because of the special character of the

paper that published

it

"These paintings are the work of a Russian, Verestchagin,

a painter equal to any of his contemporaries in artistic ability,
and beyond any painter who ever lived in the grandeur of his
moral aims and the application of his lessons to the
consciences of
him.
"

will

all

who

take the least pains to understand

will

only say that he

who

misses seeing these paintings

may

miss the best opportunity he

standing the age in which he lives

century has had a

prophet,

it

ever have of under-

for if ever the nineteenth

is

the

Russian painter,

Verestchagin."
1

repeat

it

consideration of
specially

its

cite

religious organ,

significant in

this

last

passage expressed

in

by a
the more
had been

character, as an opinion emitted

an opinion made

view of the attacks to which

all
1

submitted by people striving to prove themselves greater

papists than the Pope.

NAPOLKOX

28

Realism

RUSSIA

IX

not antagonistic to anything that

is

by the contemporary man

it

held dear

is

does not clash with

sense, with science, nor with religion.

common

Can any one have

anything but the deepest reverence (ov the teachings of

Christ concerning the Father and Creator of all that exists
for the golden rule of Christian charity ?
It is

true that

we

are enemies of bigotry, of

all

ostenta-

assumed piety but who is it that can blame us for

this since Christ Himself has said
" But when ye pray, use not vain
repetitions, as the
heathen do for they think they shall be heard for their
tious,

much speaking."
As can be easily conceived, wc have a different estimation
of many things that were explained in another way some
hundreds of years ago. The infancy of science and, con^

sequently, of the

conception of the

entire

interest us now, but

universe can

can no more direct

it

us.
At the
we can no longer admit

threshold of the twentieth century,

that the skies abo\e arc jjcopled

by saints and by angels

occupied by devils engaged

that the interior of the earth

in their

even

to

is

accept, in

literal

its

sense, the ancient idea of

rewards for good deeds, and that of torments

punishment

as

in

slow

fires

for evil deeds.

In our capacity of artists

we do not deny the

On

past ages and of the ancient masters.

give them an honourable jjlace

we

We refuse

task of roasting the sinners of the world.

ideals of the

the contrar)-,

the history of art

in

we
but

refuse to imitate them, for the very simple reason that

everything

is

good

in its

own

one century already bears

time,

in itself

and that the realism of

the germs of the idealism

of the next.

The very masters who

'

St.

are held

Matthew

to

vi. 7.

be great idealists

REALISM
in

art

have

29

not they been great realists

their

in

own

time?

Who

would risk the assertion that Raphael was not a

that his works did not
realist in the age in which he lived
scandalize many of his contemporaries, whose tastes were
:

formed on the work of primitive masters ?

And Rubens, who transgressed all limits of contemporar)decency, and that, not only in his capacity of painter, but
even as a thinker ? I hope no one would be ready to
question the fact that his powerful but one-sided genius has

intermingled the types of the personalities of the Christian

religion with those of the heathenish

God

the Father

the

is

same

mythology

as his Jupiter of

that his

Olympus

same red-cheeked studio

model that his Virgin and his Hebe one may even say
his Venus
are all personalities of the same t}'pe, all alike
Who would
red-cheeked, handsome, and self-satisfied
deny that Rubens, having peopled the Christian heavens
with heavy, buxom, healthy, and very immodest ladies and
gentlemen, had reversed all traditions and thus had shown
that they are portraits of the very

his

time?

Doubtlessly, he bewildered and scandalized a good

many

himself to be a talented, powerful

realist

in

of his pious contemporaries.

And Rembrandt
now

and the

rest of

held to be idealists, more or less

them,
:

all

of

whom

are

was not each one of

them a representative of realism in his time realism that

has been considerabl)- smoothed down in our days by the
hand of time on one side and the onward march of our
self-consciousness on the other

Who would think now-a-da}'s of reproaching those painters

for

all

that boldness, which certainly proved astounding

to their contemporaries?

And

how many were the

how many lances have

yet

disputes concerning those painters,

NAl'OLKOX

30

been broken

As we

behalf!

in their

But

that seems strange to us.

awaits the noted works of our

RUSSIA

IX

is

now

look back

all

not a sign of what

it

own time

These

also were

received inimicall)-, were proclaimed to be too far-reaching,

too bold, too

acquire

realistic, )'et will

not they also

strength under the

lasting

marching thought and technique

their turn

in

of onward

influence

Will not the day

come

*******

when they

will

also

archives of old ideals

find

themselves,

boldness

It

in

the

But we have to count with our

contemporaries.

unawares,

is

irascible

and exacting

generally held to be unpardonable

quite a scandalous proceeding

in fact

to recede

from formulas, recognized by successive generations, through

centuries.

alike

Novelists, painters, sculptors, musicians, are

invited

make compromises

to

with

triviality

all

and

absurdity which invariably retard the development of the

idea and of the technique.

E\'en such persons as grudgingl}- admit that

"

men

of thoughts," that

we

also are

"men

we

technique," even they express their regrets that

prove

false to the traditions

also are

of well-de\^eloped

we should
that we

of the old masters

should not follow the tenets consecrated by great names.

we differ in many ways. We think
Yes, it is true
:

differently,

we

are bolder in our generalization of the facts

of the past, the present, and the future

differently and transfer our impressions
;

manner.

Can we take

it

now

in

its

accepted conception of God,

literal

sense

we even work
in

different

the generally-

who had once assumed

the

on the right hand of the

Father Almight\-, with all the hosts of saints and angels
Can we admit as facts the idea of
ofathered anjund llini?
form of man, and

is

now

sitting

REALISM

31

those thrones that surpass in richness the celebrated

all

thrones of the Great Moguls of India?

the idea

of

all

those

Can we admit now

splendid vestments, adorned with

and all that

and artlessly represent
to ourselves the saints that are supposed to sit on those
same clouds as on arm-chairs and sofas, likewise in the
saints who would thus be found amidst the
richest attire
luxurious surroundings that were so distasteful to them in
their life on earth ?

embroidery, with pearls and precious stones

Can we

clouds?

in the

sincerel}'

All those splendid garments,

ings, held out as everlasting

all

those gilded surround-

rewards for virtue practised on

*******

earth

do

they not appear to us quite childish now, not to

say wholly inconsistent with good taste

A good deal has been written about m)' works many

were the reproaches brought against my paintings, those
:

treating of religious subjects as well as of military.

they were,
idea,

all

were

yet

painted onl)- because their subjects interested

The moral
its own

me.

And

of them, painted without any preconceived

up of

in

each case appeared afterwards, coming

account,

from the very truthfulness

of

impressions.

Now,
II.

on

for instance,

five

battle-field

have seen the Emperor Alexander

consecutive days, as he sat on a

spreading out before him

little

knoll

watching, with

the
field-

bombardment, and then the storming

This surely was also the way
of the enemy's positions.
Emperor
attended battles, as
which
old
German
in
the
well as his son, that admirable man, the late Frederick of
German}'. Of this I have even been assured by eyewitnesses.
Certainl}-, it would be ridiculous to suppose
that an Emperor assisting at battles would canter about

glass in hand,

first

the

NAPOLEON

32

IX

RUSSIA

brandishing his sword as a young ensign, and yet the desire

has been attributed to me to undermine by my picture the
prestige of the sovereign in the eyes of the masses,

who

are

prone to imagine their lunpcror prancing on a fiery steed,

in times of danger, in the very thick of the fight.

have represented

felt

tlie

bandaging and the transporting

have seen it done, and have

wounded exactly as
wounded, bandaged, and
when
person
own
my
in

of the

it

And )-et, that

transported in the most primitive manner.
a
exaggeration,
gross
again has been declared to be a
calumny.
I observed during several days how prisoners were slowly
I
freezing to death on a road extending over thirty miles.

American artist, Frank D. Millet,

that scene and when he afterto
spot,
the
was
on
who
declared it to be strikingly
he
painting
wards saw my

called the attention of the

correct

yet for that painting

abuse as would
I

have been treated to such

not admit of repetition in print.

have seen a

priest

performing the

last religious rites

on

mass of killed, |)lundered, mutilated

up their life in the defence of
country; and that scene again a picture which I

a battle-field over a
soldiers,

their

who had

had painted,
proclaimed

just given

literally,

with tears

high quarters

in

in

to

my

e>'es has been also

be the product of

my

imagination, a downright falsehood.

My

pay any attention to

was given them by that same priest

lofty accusers did not deign to

the fact that the lie

who, disgusted with the accusations against me, declared
and that in the presence of the public standing before the
picture

that

it

was he who had been {performing those

last rites over the massed bodies of the killed soldiers

had done it in the very surroundings reproduced in my
Yet, notwithstanding all this, my picture barely
picture.


REALISM
afterwards

was intended

it

coloured

in

from the exhibition, and when

to pubHsh all those pictures
the officials put their veto on the

being ejected

escaped

scheme,

33

prints,

for fear lest

they should find their

way among

the

masses.

should not be imagined, however, that that indignation

It

prevailed exclusively in Russian high spheres.

very well known

Prussian general

who

It

was a

Emperor

advised the

have all my military paintings burned

as objects of a most pernicious kind.

Alexander

II.

to

There were still more inimical commentaries on those of

m\' pictures which treat of religious subjects.
Yet have I
attacked the Christian morals

Have

highly.

No

founder?
I

No I

hold these very

attacked the idea of Christianity or

ha\e the highest respect

tried to detract

for

them.

its

Have

from the significance of the Cross?

No

this would be a sheer impossibilit}'.

Holy Land with the book
hand I have visited all the places
sanctified, centuries ago, by the presence of our Saviour in
them. Consequently, I must have, and do have, m}' own
ideas and conceptions as to the representation of many
events and facts recorded in the Gospels.
My ideas
have travelled

of the Gospels in

nccessaril}' differ

all

over the

my

from the conceptions of

who have

artists

*******

never seen the scener\' of the Holy Land, have not person-

observed

ally

Here
of

the

Magi

executed

my

is

its

population and their customs.

idea, for instance, of the fact of the

;

painting

contemplated,

Adoration

but

not

yet

clear, starry night

hem these

travellers are

are the Magi,

men

versed

approaching Bethlein science,

having a
D

NAl'OI.i:OX

34

cit)-,

the wise

men

RUSSIA

Proceeding on their way toward

knowlcdi^c of astrolog}'.
the

IX

notice a star standing over

had ne\er \'et observed. Since,

the idea was prevalent that cver\' man had
which

the}'

and, viir versa, ever)' star corres()onded to

earth, so the

it

a star

at that time,

own star,
some man on
this new star
his

Magi naturally conclude that

somewhere in the neighbour-

indicates the birth of a child

hood, and that

the

being exceptionally brilliant

star

the new-born child must develop into a most j)rominent

man.
Arriving at ]3ethlehem, the
after,

the servant,

who had been

mules, comes in and

sought refuge

in

]\Iagi

tells

the

put up at an inn.

attending

Magi

that a poor

where

the place

Soon

to the travellers'

their

woman had

animals were

and there had given birth to a most beautiful child.

Hearing this, the Magi exchange significant glances
the coming up of the star has been rightly interpreted by
kept,

them.

Let us go and see it must be an extraordinary child,"

they say, and thereupon proceed to the grotto of the inn,
where the horses, the cows, and the donkeys were kept,
"

being followed by a few other

tra\ellers,

who

are likewise

curious to see the new-born child.

In a corner of the grotto they observe a beautiful,

young woman,

sitting

on a

pile of

jiale

straw and nursing her

baby, whilst her husband, an elderly man, is seen in the

distance, outside the grotto, preparing .something for his
famil}'.
"

What

a beautiful child

turning to the Virgin, say

"

"
!

exclaimed the Magi, and,

Remember

our words.

He

will

be a great man we have .seen His star."

Then, their pity being stirred by the poverty of the
surroundings, one of the wise men would offer a gold coin
;

REALISM

35

as a gift to the child, while another would, perhaps, pour

out a

of the precious myrrh from his travelling-flask.

little

men get ready to leave the grotto, they turn

once more to Mary and repeat their prediction concerning
the great future of the child, and " Mary kept these things,
As

the wise

and pondered them

I

in

her heart."

firmly believe that such a realistic representation of the

poverty and simplicity attending the nativity of Christ is

incomparably loftier than the idealization of richness and
other exaggerations to which the old masters had recourse.

But such a treatment of the subject

is

new

therefore

it

appears strange, and very likely will excite comment. And

only our descendants in a century or two will be able to

*******

decide which of these two opposing views was the correct

one.

Among

the paintings on exhibition will be noticed one

portraying a not infrequent event

time

an

plicity.

Palestine in the olden

in

event highly dramatic, yet retaining

I

The sky

mean
is

"A

all its

sim-

Crucifixion under the Romans."

overcast by heavy black clouds.

Just outside

the walls of Jerusalem, on a small rock, are erected three

crosses, all of the

and of coarse

The
size, shape, and appearance.
on the two sides are of a vulgar type

same

figures of the crucified

build, while the central figure

His face is
auburn hair that hangs over

not seen

refined form.

it

it

is

is

of a more

hidden by long

long hair indicates that

was a man who dedicated himself to God.

The wounds on the hands and feet of the three crucified
men bleed profusely (it being a well-known fact that physi-

the crucified

cians find

it

difficult to

stretched palms and

two

stop the flow of blood out of out-

feet).

priests of high rank,

In front of the crosses stand

and they seemingly argue about

NAPOLEOX

36
soniL' maltci',

;is

man

possibl)- they refer to

Roman

proxc somcthini;' to a

to

iflrNiiiL;'

militan- attire

in

Kl'SSIA

I\

tlie

of the

i;uilt

middle cross, a guilt about which

the militar)' man seems to retain some doubts.
Artjund
the rock soldiers are forming a chain to restrain the
crucified

on

tlie

crowd.
In

the foreground of the painting are seen

every description

some on

mounted on camels
folks or

or

nomads, who, returning home from market, stopped

on their way
of the day

for a

the

moment

order to witness the event

in

execution of a man, the renown

deeds

had reached even

whose

arrest

Among

people of

some on horseback; others

on donkeys. Those are country
foot,

huts

their

caused almost an insurrection

whose

(;f

and tents

a
the

in

man
cit}'.

others in the crowd can be noticed a few liebrew

merchants with their characteristic head-gear (which

A\as

discarded at a comparatively late date), and Pharisees with

the letters of the
heads.
his

One

Law

written on the coverings of their

of the Pharisees

neighbour concerning a

bitterly, in the

is

discussing something with

woman who

is

seen weeping

corner of the picture, presumably the mother

of one of the crucified men.

Her

face cannot be seen, but

her sorrow must be great indeed, and none of the

surrounding her seem

Many

likely

a time, probably,

women

be able to console her.

to

had she

tried to

from his chosen course, but all in vain,

divert her son

and now

his

time

has come.
]ly the side of the heart-broken

some young woman plunged

the sight of the executed

cheek, but she

is

is

man

into

the tears run

not conscious of

it,

she by her terrible, unspeakable

As soon

mother stands a handdeep consternation at

down

her

so thoroughly absorbed
grief.

as the authorities should retire

and the crowd

REALISM
thin out, there

37

would be a chance

for

mother, and

the

those that surround her, to approach the crosses

would

find

possible to say their last farewell.

it

'7^

then they

we have a representation of a contemporary

among other people and surroundings. Here

Further on,
execution,

day in the North. A mass of people

crowding into one of the squares of St. Petersburg, pressing toward the gallows and being held back by mounted
gendarmes. Close to the gallows onl)^ a select few are

we

see a cold winter

is

admitted, mostly the

militar)-,

all

representatives of the

who are in hopes of getting a piece

of the cord used by the hangman
the superstition being
very common that a piece of the cord on which a man
gilded youth of the city,

is

hanged

sure to bring luck at cards to

is

fortunate

its

possessor.

The

criminal, enveloped in a white shroud, with the cap

drawn over

his

head, has just been hanged and

whirling round on the cord, while the people stand

bewilderment before the

a

hoarse voice

instructi\-e

is

There

sight.

among

still

mute

in

is

but

crowd
"There now serves him right, too!" But these words
are immediately hushed by several women's voices crying
out, "What are you saying?
It is beyond us to condemn him now. Let God Almighty pass judgment on
single

raised

from

the

"

him
Meantime the snow continues to fall, the smoke
from the factories, work is going on as usual.
!

*******
.

It is

worthy of notice that

is

rising

this last painting, while

it

did

not please the Russians, pleased the English people very

much indeed
in

India"

is

on the other side the

not at

all

liked

Blowing from guns

by Englishmen, and yet the
"

NAPOLKOX

38

Russians fancied

it

vcr)-

RUSSIA

IX

Men who had

much.

me

service in India assured

that

was mistaken

seen

ing such an execution as a typical, characteristic

capital

mode

punishment

in that

country

much

in present-

way

of

the\- insisted that this

of execution had been adopted but

once

course of the last insurrection of the Sepo)s

and

in

the

even at

it had been used only in a \ery few instances.

But I maintain that this mode of execution a comparatively
humane one too not only has been in constant use during

that time

the revolt referred

when the

to,

guns by the thousand, but that

authorities in

Sepoy

Sepo}'s were blown from

was used by the British

many )ears before and after the

India for

it

More than that, I am cjuite positive

mode of execution will have to be used
The Hindoo does not fear an}' other kind

revolt of 1858.

that that particular

in future times.

of capital punishment receixed at the hands of the

unclean Europeans."

ish,

down

or

hanged by the European goes

the mart}'rs
Jkit

life.

who

"

heathen-

The)' hold that any one shot

to swell the ranks of

are entitled to a high reward in the future

an execution by means of a gun carries positive

terror into the heart of a native, for such a shot tears the

and thus prevents him from

in heaven. This bugbear
and will be used by them as long

criminal's bod}' in man}' parts,

presenting himself

was used by the

decent form

in

British,

as the}' fear to lose their Indian possessions.

In order to hold a population of 250,000,000 in political

and economical submission by means of 60,000 ba}'onets,

it is not enough to be brave and to be possessed of political
tact
punishment and bloody reprisals cannot be avoided.

All this
that,

while

is

so .self-evident, that

we

artists

criminate, people are

are
still

it

seems

required

to

reall}-

wonderful

observe and dis-

inclined to be astonished

and

REALISM
we put

indignant whenever

39

those faculties of ours to use

and transfer our impressions to canvas or paper.

The artists are on all hands pressed to give the public
something new, something original, something that is not
hackneyed by fashion and triviality }'et, \\hen we make
an effort to present something of the sort, we are accused
;

of insolence.

And what

are the results of such a state of things

People get tired of books and gorge themselves on crude

from real life as recorded in dail}' newspapers people

facts

get tired of picture galleries and exhibitions, being certain

to find in

most of them the very same kind of pictures all

same subjects, painted in an identical
people find it a dull task to go to the theatres

treating of the very

manner
where in nine plays out of ten the}' will find the very
same conventional plot, invariabl)- terminating in a
;

wedding.
Well, what

Why,

art

as can be

is

and

is

now

generall}' speaking the part of art

brought down to the

like to

be amused by

level of a toy for

it

it is

such

expected, as

were, to stimulate the public's digestive powers.

it

Paintings,

if there
for instance, are considered simply as furniture
happens to remain an empty space on the wall between
the door and the corner taken up, let us say, by a whatnot surmounted by a vase why then, that empty space
is forthwith covered by a picture of light contents and of
such a one as would not distract too
pleasant execution
much attention from the other furniture and bric-a-brac,
would not interfere with the dolcc far iiicnte of visitors.
And yet the influence and the resources of art are
enormous. The majority of old-time painters \\-ere handicapped by their allegiance to power and riches they were
men who were not weighed down b}' an}' sense of serious
:

NArOIJCOX

40

responsibilit)',

civil

and

IN

yet,

RUSSIA

notwithstanding

how

this,

powerful was the influence of art during whole centuries!

It was felt in all the corners and hidden recesses of the life
of nations

What, then, is not to be expected from art in our time,

when artists arc inspired with their duties as citizens of
their countr)when the)- cease to dance attendance on
the rich and powerful, who love to be called patrons of
when artists have acquired independence, and have
art
begun to realize that the first condition of a fruitful activity
is to be a gentleman, not in the narrow meaning of caste,

but

*******

in

the wide acceptance of the term pertaining to the

time we

li\e in

Armed
more

with the confidence of the public, art will adhere

closely to society, will constitute itself

face of the serious

its

ally in the

danger that threatens

that kind of society which we

all

societ}- now-a-days
know, which \\'e are all

more or less prompted to love and to respect.

There is no gainsa}'ing the fact that all

the

other

questions of our time are paling before the question of

socialism that advances on us, threateningly, like a tremen-

dous thunder-cloud.
The masses that have been for centuries leading a life of
expectancy while hanging on the very borders of starvation, are willing to wait

the future are discarded

they are clamouring

division of

more

all

lasting,

no more.
;

for

Their former hopes

their appetites are whetted,

arrears,

in

and

which means now the

the riches, and so as to

make

the division

they are claiming that talents and capacities

should be levelled

down

one standard, all workers of

progress and comfort alike drawing the same pay.
They
are striving to reconstruct society on new foundations, and
to

REALISM
in case

41

of opposition to their aims, they threaten to apply

all the monuments pertaining to an order that,

the torch to

according to

them, has already outlived

its

usefulness

they threaten to blow up the public buildings, the churches,

the

*****

art

galleries,

libraries

and museums

downright

religion of despair

^j

II

My

the

friend,

General

late

" Howdo you understand the movement of the Sociahsts and the

Skobeleff, once asked me,

1^
^'

\t

He owned

Anarchists?"

jMraH
3^^^B

'

what
the)'
in!4

the)'

want

aimed

all

What do

are the)'

stri\--

"
?

of

all,"

jM-eciation of art

answered,
to wars be-

those people object

tween nations
Jxiisslan

"

at.

What

to attain

" h'irst
"

that he

himself did not understand at

ai^ain, their
is

ap-

very limited,

ll'oiiiaii.

the art of

[)aintinL;"

not excluded.

they ever come into power, you, with your strategic

combinations, and I, with m)^ pictures, will both be shelved

Thus,

if

immediately.
"

this

Yes,

time forth

society

is

)-ou

understand

There

Do

is

am

understand this?"

this," rejoined

determined to

no inistaking the

seriousl)-

Skobeleff, " and from

fight them."

fact that, as

have said before,

threatened at the hands of a large mass

of peojile counting hundreds of millions.

Those arc the

people, who, for generations, during entire centuries, have

been on the brink of starvation, poorl\- clad, living

42

in filth\-


REALISM

43

and unhealthy quarters paupers, and such people as have

Well, who is
scarcely any property, or no property at all.
are not they themselves to be
to blame for their poverty
blamed for it ?
No, it would be unjust to lay all the blame at their door
it is more likely that society at large is more to blame for
;

their condition than they are themselves.

any way out of the

Is there

Certainl}' there

situation

Christ, our Great Teacher, has long

is.

ago pointed out the way

in

which the

rich

and the powerful

could remedy the situation without bringing things to a

any upheaval of the existing

would
only
seriousl}' take care of the
they
miserable
that certainly would have ensured them the
undisturbed enjoyment of the bulk of their fortune.
Ikit
there is little hope of a peaceful solution of the question
revolutionar}' pass, without
social order, if
;

now
to

it is

certain that the well-to-do classes will

remain Christians

palliative

tion

measures

in

will

name

onl)'

they

will still

still

prefer

hope that

be sufficient to remedy the situa-

or else, believing the danger to be distant, they will

not be disposed to give up much

while the paupers
though formerly they were ready for a compromise ma}'
be soon found unwilling to take the pittance offered them.
What do they want, then ?
Nothing less than the equalization of riches in the societ)'
to come. They claim the material as well as moral equalization of all rights, trades, all capacities and talents
as we
have already said, they strive to undermine all the founda;

tions of the existing state of society, and, in inaugurating

a

new order of

open a real
instead of the shadows

things, they claim to be able to

*******

era of liberty, equality, and fraternity,

of those lofty things, as existing now.

NAPOLEON

44

RUSSIA

IN

do not mean to go into the discussion of the matter

would not pretend to point out how much justice or
I

injustice, iiow

these claims

much
I

sounchicss or unsounchicss, there

only the fact that there

state

is

is

in

a deep

gulf between the former cries for bread and the sharply

formulated claims of the present.

It

is

exident that the

masses has grown within the past centuries,

which the)- intend to present for pa\'ment will

ajjpetite of the

and the

bill

not be a small one.

Who

will

be required to

most certainly.
be done willingly

this bill

[)a)'

Society,

Will

it

Evidently

not.

Consequentl}' there will be complications, quarrels,

civil

wars.
Certainl)' there will be serious complications
alread)- casting their

shadows before them

in

the)' are

the shape of

disturbances of a socialistic character that are originating

here and there.

In America,

ances are lesser and

and Belgium,

most

pointed

less

for instance,

those disturb-

likel)',

but

in

luu'ope, in h^-ance

such disorders assume a very

threatening aspect.

Who

is

likely to be victori(JUs in this struggle?

Unless Napoleon

was wrong

I.

in

his

assertion

that

remain with the gros baiaillons, the

" regulators " will win.
Their numbers will be very great
whoever knows human nature will understand that all such
will

victor)^

as

alwa)'s

have not much to lose

the claims of those

It is

will, at

the decisi\-e

who have nothing

generally supposed that the danger

nent yet

but, as far as

of the danger varies in

was able

moment,

join

to lose.

is

not so immi-

to judge, the

different countries.

imminence
France, for

REALISM
instance

that

long-suffering

experimenting on
tific

which

countr}''

whether

herself,

45

be

it

is

ever

for

in social or scien-

questions, or in politics is the nearest to a crisis

then

follow Belgium and other countries.

very possible that even the present generation will

It is

As

witness a serious upheaval.

there

no doubt that they

is

to the

coming generations,

assist

will

reconstruction of the social structure in

The

thorough

countries.

claims of socialists, and, particularly, the anarchists,

as well as the disorders incited

at
all

sensation

great

in

societ}\

by them, generally produce

But no sooner are the

disorders suppressed, than society relapses again into

its

usual unconcern, and no one gives a thought to the fact

that the

frequency of these painful symptoms, recurring

much

with so

persistency,

is

in itself

a sign of disease.

Far-seeing people begin to realize that palliative measures are no longer of use

and of
left

rulers will

that a change of governments

no longer avail;

and that nothing

is

but to await developments contingent on the attitude

of the opposed parties

the energetic

determination of the

well-to-do classes, not to yield, and that of the proletariat,

to keep their courage

The only

and persevere.

consolation remaining to the rich consists in

the fact that the

"

regulators

"

have not had time as yet to

organize their forces for a successful struggle with society.

This

is

slowly,

is

are

steadily

perfecting

it

their

on the other hand, can we say that society

enough organized not to stand in dread of

well

Who
society

"regulators"

the

organization

attacks

But, though they do

true to a certain extent.

are
?

the

recognized

and

official

defenders

of

NAPOLEON

46

The Ann\- and

the Church.

there

soldier,

is

no doubt,

represents a soUd defence

part.

It

many

likely that for

is

good support, he
him is
get weary of his ungrateis

the only trouble about

that the soldier himself begins to

ful

RUSSIA

IX

years to

come the

soldier will shoot with a light heart at such as are called

"

his

"

enemies

Who

is

but the time

shoot at his

will refuse to

own

a good soldier

is

not far distant

Only one

whom you

to

point out his father, his mother, or his brother

saying,

"Those are enemies of

when he

people.

societ)-, kill

can

in

the crowd,

"

and who

them

will obe}'.

may remark

here, in passing, that

it

occurred to

me

to

had with the wellknown French writer and thinker, Alexandre Dumas, jils,
and with what success ?
Conceding the justice of the
apprehension, he had no other comforting suggestion to
offer than
to say, " Oh, }-es, the soldier will shoot
a conversation

refer to this idea in

yet

"
!

The

other defender of

tired of his task

him,

societ}',

the priest, has been less

than the soldier, and consequently he

ill-used

less

heed

is

as to the truth of

but,

is

on the hand, people begin to

not so
tire

of

paid to his words, and there arises a doubt

all

that he preaches.

There was a time when it was possible to tell the people

that there is but one sun in the heavens, as there is but one
God-appointed king in the country. As stars of the first,
second, third, and fourth magnitude are grouping themselves around the sun, so the powerful, the rich, the poor,
and the miserable, surround the king on earth. And, as
it

all

aj)i)carcd

j)lausiblc,

people used

to

such arrangements were as they ought to

accepted,

all

went on smoothly

believe

that

All

was

be.

none of such things can

REALISM
be advanced no\v-a-days, however

47
;

no one

be ready

will

to believe in them.

Clearl}^, things assume a serious aspect.

day comes when the priests entirely lose

the

when the

people,

down

where

will society

on

their guns' muzzles

look for bulwarks then

it

has no more reliable defence

it

has such a defence, and

possible that
Certainl}',

soldiers turn

Suppose the
their hold

Is

it

it is

nothing else

talent, and its representatives, in science, literature,

and art in all its ramifications.
Art must and will defend society. Its influence is less
apparent and palpable, but it is very great it might even
be said that its influence over the minds, the hearts, and
the actions of people is enormous, unsurpassed, unrivalled.
Art must and will defend society with all the more care
and earnestness, because its devotees know that the
" regulators " are not disposed to give them the honourable,
respectable position they occupy now
for, according to
them, a good pair of boots is more useful than a good
picture, a novel, or a statue.
Those people declare that
talent is luxury, that talent is aristocratic, and that,
consequently, talent has to be brought down from its
pedestal to the common level
a principle to which we

than

shall never submit.

Let us not deceive ourselves

there will arise new
which will gradually adapt themselves to new
;

talents,

conditions,

if

such

perhaps gain from

will
it

prevail,

and

their

ciple of general demolition

and reconstruction, when

has no other foundation but the well-known thesis

us destroy everything and clear the ground

reconstruction

about

may

works

but we shall not agree to the prin-

that

we

shall

see

later

"

this

Let

as to

the

on."

We

NAPOLEON

4<S

defend and acKocate the improx-emcnt of the existing

shall

order

It

on

RUSSIA

IN

means of

b\'

and

jx-aceful

<;radual measures.

goes without sa}'ing that we

its side,

should help us to

our task

fulfil

freedom necessary

trust us, give us all the

ment and exertion of

There is the rub

demand
;

that society,

that

it

should

for the de\'elop-

talent.

WeH-fed,

self-satisfied

at all blame, derision,

at every change,

society quails

and comment

it

distrusts the fore-

most, daring representatives of science, literature, and

point out the road for talent, but even

measure, the degree of

to

development, and

its

art.

only to

Society strives jealously to retain the right not

regulate the
its

manifest-

.ation.

connnon and
and privileges, while anything that is new and original is bound to
awaken animosity and censure, has to go through a severe
struggle under the pressure of wide-spread cant and
In this

society of ours an)thing that

conventional

is

shielded by

kinds

all

(jf

is

rights

hypocrisy.

Try

to create anything ingenious in

of science and literature, try to present

form

the

most

original,

it

graphic or plastic

conception,

striking

forget or refuse to surround

any of the regions

in

but

only

with the conventional layer

of triviality and vulgarit}' so dear to the heart of society,

you
you

will

Why
way

be "done

will

for,"

you

will

be called a charlatan,
is

that so

Was

to all great discoveries

it
?

if

not even obtain a hearing,

nothing worse than that.

society that has

No

it

shown the

has always delayed

them, has always put brakes on them.

Has

society, in

its

collective

form, ever evoked

the great manifestations of art or literature?

No

any of
society

"

REALISM

49

was always eager to worry, to persecute men of talent,

though it erects monuments to them after their death.
How did society come to display such arrogance and
presumption ? It was tempted that way only by the unchristian conviction that " the aim justifies the means."

*******

Can there be anything more exasperating than the conversation we hear sometimes
"
" Have you been to the Salon ?
" No
we did not happen to go there this year, but last
year we ^\cre there more than once."
;

There

irony here as well as truth, for in the majority

number of

is

of cases, you will find in the Sa/on the same

nearly of the same quality, treating on nearly

same subjects, and, most assuredl}', painted nearl)- in
the same style.
" Have you seen the new play of Sardou
" Just imagine, could not possibly get to see it yet, had
pictures

the

.''

to

go to the countr)^

say both plays are

new thing
very much alike

And

well as in plot."

doubtlessly

more

we go

to the

of Dumas'.

They

but then to-morrow

Conicdie Francaise to see that

this

is

in

conception, as

perfectly true

they are

or less alike.

Whose fault is this, then, if not the authors' ?

Ask the playwrights, whether they would dare to
represent the action in such a way as it has been
suggested to them by real
sion,

with

its

made unavoidable by

for once,

conclu-

logical

the march
the long-established, hackneyed, conventional

termination
"

life,

of events, omitting,

No," the authors would

tell

you,

and they

will

be

to be thought of,"

weighed down by cant,

will

"

such a thing

in the right.

is

not

Society,

not go to see such a play, how-

NAPOLEON

50
ever

intercstinj;"

the public

if

it

ina)-

be

RUSSIA

IN

humour

so the author has to

he does not \\ant to

brini;'

ruin

on

his nianai^er

and on himself.

The same

is tlie

case with

How many

posers.

even comMuses have been

artists, sculj)tors,

favourites of the

driven into early graves by the animosity of the public

against
ideas

all

new

construction of poetical as well as musical

On one side we hear complaints of the dulness, the

monotony, even the triviality, prevailing in art
people
clamour for something inspired, something original
on
;

the other hand, the

that

for all

fails to

same public arbitrarily chastises you

come within the range of established,

conventional ideas
It is

high time,

it

seems to me, to understand the neces-

of treating art with tolerance and confidence,

sity

want

it

to fraternize with society, to

become

as

if

we

one with

and well in the present troubled

times \\hen the poet and the artist are soldiers at their
it,

to serve

faithfully

it

*******

posts.

But, you

representative of art," I might be asked,

"what are the tidings that you are so eager to announce to
what are )'our discoveries that would be so entirely
us
"

new

to society

Well, what

"
?

we should say would,

yet certainl}' the idea of

it

consciousness of the people.

has

perhaps, not be news,

not yet penetrated the

Armed

with the

rich,

varied

we should tell people some truths.

we shall say to them, " give up enjoj'ing

resources of art
"

Give up,"

yourselves amidst the illusions of the idealism which

lulls

your senses, of the idealism of high-sounding words and

phrases.
Look around you through the eye of sensible

REALISM
realism,

You
You

and you

51

will acquire the certitude of

your mistake.

are not the Christians you assume yourselves to be.

are not representatives of Christian societies, of

Christian countries."

Those who

kind by the hundred thousand are

kill their

not Christians.

Those who are always moved, in private as well as in

life, by the principle of " eye for eye, and tooth for

public

tooth," are not Christians.

Those who spend many hours of

who

yet

their lives in churches,

give nothing, or next to nothing, to the poor, are

not Christians.

What have you done

with the decree of the Saviour

concerning Christian humility, and to help such as are

real

need

What

in

is

the stand taken now,

let

us ask,

by those two

great branches of the administration of Christ's Church,

that call themselves the

Roman

Catholic and the Orthodox

Churches, which have separated, thanks to their inability

whether the Holy Ghost proceeded from

Is
the Father and the Son or from the Father alone?
it possible that they have not come yet to an understanding, and, blinded by mutual hatred, are neglecting the
to agree as to

loftiness of their mission

What is the stand

of

late,

on earth

taken by those new Churches originated

comparatively speaking, on the plea of a more

understanding of the connection of life with its

}
Is it possible that, having concluded the

realistic

Originator

fight with their great adversary, those

Churches have also

nap over the existing order of

renounced taking a hand in any

drifted into a sweet

things,

and have

further

reforms
Well,

also

if it

be

so, let

men

of talent shake the strong and

NAPOLEON

52

IN RUSSIA

the powerful out of the somnolence into which the}- have

fallen

we

a difficult task

it

will be,

but a noble one.

are refused a hearing, or attempts are

made

to

And

if

muzzle

why, it will be the worse for society. Rouse itself it

must but it will be too late the " Vandals will have
burned Rome " once again. We may be assured that no
churches, no bankers' offices will then be spared.
" If an\' man ha\-e ears to hear, let him hear."
us,

NAPOLEON
no doubt, from the Dresden
that we must date
Napoleon's open hostiHty towards
It

is,

Conference
Russia.

After

his

unsuccessful

endeavour to secure the hand of

the Tsar's sister, it was rumoured
in
well-informed French Court
circles that Napoleon had made
up his mind once and for all to

humble the pride of Russia. It was

not, however, until the Dresden
Conference that Napoleon threw
off the

mask.

He

then adopted a distinctly threatening

attitude in the face of Alexander's refusal to reconsider his

decision

and humble himself

The Russian Emperor

in

the eyes of Europe.

firmly refused to submit, and his

was the more offensive to Napoleon

was open and undisguised. There was no
question of concealing it or of receding from the position
the wine must
already adopted. " The bottle is opened
be drunk," was Napoleon's own expression.
It was,
moreover, at the Dresden Conference that
Napoleon attained the zenith of his power. At Dresden

defiant

attitude

inasmuch as

it

53

NAPOLEON

54

he was indeed a

kinc:^

of

RUSSIA

IN

Tlie lunperor of Austria

kiiiL^s.

and repeatedl}' assured his au'^ust cousin that

he might "fully rely upon .Austria for the triumph of the
common cause " while the King of Prussia reassured him
of his " unswerving fidelit)-."
The splendour and magnificence of the ]"'rench Court
respectfull}'

the

at

time of the

PJresden

Conference, says

an eye-

Napoleon the air of some legendary Grand

Mogul. As at Tilsit, he showered magnificent presents
on all sides. At his /rvecs reigning princes danced attendance for hours in the hoj^e of being honoured with an
audience.
This new order of would-be courtiers was so
numerous that the PLmperor's chamberlains and officials
had constantly to give one another warning lest they
should jcjstle a Royal Highness unawares.
Every country sent its contingent. There were no eyes
but for Napoleon. The populace gathered in crowds outside the palace, following his every movement, and dogging

witness, gave

his progress

some great
Never,

made
for

streets, in

probably,

were

as for this campaign.

a war,

kinds

through the

hourly expectation of

event.

such

elaborate

arrangements

J5esides the usual preparations

engagements were made with tradesmen of

all

tin-workers, masons, watchmakers, and other skilled

There was no word of exj^lanation as to the

place in which their services would be required, so that
until the opening of the campaign the general public had
no inkling of the object of all these preparations. It was

artisans.

even rumoured that Napoleon was about to aid Russia

against the Turks.

The abrupt departure

of the Russian

military ag3nt

and the court-martial on certain

Tczernicheff from
persons who had treasonably sup[)lied him with various
Paris,

NAPOLEON
documents, at

last

55

revealed the Emperor's plans, and

was then positively stated

in

the salons that

parations were directed against Russia.

The

the

it

pre-

authorities,

however, refused to confirm these reports, and went so far

as to issue an order to the army, forbidding the officers

men to discuss the rumoured campaign.

The French army was at that moment
flourishing condition.

men

of 20,000

It

in

the

and

most

consisted of twelve infantry corps

each, three cavalry corps of the

same

strength,

and with 40,000 men of the Guard, Artillery, Engineers,

and Sappers, amounted to 400,000 men, including 300,000
Frenchmen. This enormous force possessed 1200 guns
and more than 100,000 ammunition- wagons and caissons.
Such a body of troops, accustomed to victory,
proud of its traditions, full of confidence in its officers,
and led by a commander with the prestige of twenty
years' brilliant success, might well be deemed invincible.
Every subaltern regarded a campaign in Russia as
a pleasant six months' outing.
The whole army, fully
assured of speedy success, looked forward to the war as a
means of rapid promotion. All were eager to start. " We
are off to Moscow," they cried to their friends, "d
bicntot !
It

"

was said that Prussia would receive from the expected

full compensation for her former losses. Napoleon

conquests
himself

suggested

this

in

his

proclamation

"At

the

beginning of July we shall be in St. Petersburg I shall be

avenged on the P^mperor Alexander, and the King of
;

Prussia will be

Emperor of

the North."

There were prophets who declared that " if the Russians

do not make their peace in time. Napoleon will divide
their European territories into two parts
the Dukedom of
Smolensk, and the Dukedom of St. Petersburg. The

NAPOLEON

56

Emperor

Alcxaiulcr,

if

Napoleon

leave him his throne, will

RUSSIA

IX

tliinks

it

worth while to

reii;n onl)' in .Vsia."

The Comte de Narbonne, Napoleon's envoy to Vilna,

was obliged to admit that the Emperor Alexander conducted himself with irrejjroachable
neither

fear

nor

arrogance.

Narbonne returned

to

iiis

He

dignit}'.

The answer

displayed

master at

Im])erial

which
Dresden

with

proved that the Russian lunperor was firmly resolved to

no other terms than those which his Ambassador at

offer

Paris

had already communicated.

He had
An

subtract from them, and nothing to add.

describes

the

impression

produced

in

nothing to
eye-witness

Dresden, where

everybody was eagerly waiting to learn the result of his

mission, by the arrival of Comte Narbonne's travel-stained
carriage, when he returned with the news that "the
lunperor Alexander refused to alter his decision."
" Although," Alexander said, " no one tells me so to my
face, I am well aware, and I am not ashamed to own it,
that I am not so great a soldier as Napoleon, and that I
have no generals who are a match for his. This assurance
on

my

my

sincere desire for the maintenance of peace."

part should,

think, serve as the clearest proof of

.Mexander was extremely indignant

at Napoleon's sub-

secjuent high-handed proceeding in crossing

the

frontier

without declaring war, for although the Russians were expecting hostilities, there were some, including Rumyantsef

and other notables, who regarded it to the

firmly believing that the matter would end

last as unlikely,
in

a (c\v threats

and a compromise.
Nine years later, when Napoleon was at St. Helena, the
Emperor Alexander caused him to be asked why he had
refused the terms brought by Narbonne from Vilna.
" Because by the terms of the offer," replied
Napoleon,

NAPOLEON
"

57

month was required before any definitive treaty could

at, and such a delay might have involved the

be arrived

campaign, of

loss of the

all

our stupendous preparations,

and of the alliances that had been entered into, and which
there was little prospect of renewing."
Napoleon loudly proclaimed that " Fate was leading
Russia to her doom," and took upon himself the duty of
executing the decree of destiny, by which the Russians, as
enemies of European civilization, were to be driven into the
wilds of Asia.

Napoleon's

own

baggage-train

of seventy
twenty carriages, open
and two hundred riding-

wagons, each drawn by eight horses

consisted

and closed forty pack-mules

During his drives from place to place the Emperor
was never idle. When darkness fell, a lamp fixed inside
the carriage enabled him to work as comfortably as if he
were sitting at home in his own room. Aides-de-camp
and orderlies were alwa)'s within call at the door of his
carriage, and a number of riding-horses followed with the
;

horses.

body-guard.

way Napoleon reached the Niemen on June

mounted his horse at two o'clock at night. It is
said that as he approached the bank of the river, his horse
stumbled and threw him, and that some one cried out,
" That's a bad omen
a Roman would have turned back
but no one could distinguish whether it was the Emperor
In this

11/23,

ai'id

or one of his suite

who

uttered the words.

extract from M. Bertin's book a characteristic account

given by Count Soltyk, general of the Polish artiller}-.
I

On the arrival of the Emperor, several officers, together

with myself and Suchorzewski, the major of the regiment,
ran up.
Napoleon quickly approached the major and
"

asked

for

the

colonel

of the

regiment.

Suchorzewski,

1/

NAPOLEON

58

RUSSIA

IX

ill no wise disconcerted at the

absence of the colonel, who
was still asleep, answered that he was filling his place,
and was ready to receive any orders. Napoleon then asked
him which was the road to the Niemen, and made inquiries
regarding the outposts and the position of the Russians.
Whilst asking these (juestioiis, he (ordered a change of
uniform, as it had been agreed, or rather ordered, that no
P^'ciich soldier should be seen by the Russians.
He took
off his coat, and the rest of us
the Prince of Neufchatel,

Suchorzewski, Colonel Pagowski,

spot. General Bruyeres,

who had

hurried to the

followed his example.

and myself

There were therefore

five or six of us in our shirts in the

middle of the bivouac surrounding the Emperor, each
with his uniform in his hand.
The Poles offered

theirs

to the French.

amusing.

Of

all

our

Altogether the scene was most

uniforms.

Colonel

Pagowski's

He had

coat and forage cap best fitted the Emperor.

been offered a Lancer's head-dress, but refused it as

being too heavy. All this took j)lace in a few minutes.
Berthier also

put on a

Polish

uniform.

The

colonel's

Napoleon mounted one of

them Berthier took the other, and Lieutenant Zrelski,
whose company was on outpost duty, was ordered to
horses were at once led up.
;

accompany the Emperor as guide.

" They went as far as Alexota, a village about
distant, opposite

Emperor

Kovno, and

w^'lhin

range of

its

three miles

guns.

The

alighted in the courtyard of a house belonging to

a doctor, whose windtjws overlooked the Niemen, and frcnn

which one might easily sur\ey the surrounding country.
I
had m)'self three days previously made a plan of Kovno
from this very spot. From there Napoleon thoroughly

reconnoitred the district without himself being seen.

horses were carefull}' concealed in

the court)'ard.

His
After

NAPOLEON
completing

his

59

survey he returned to the bivouac, and

enemy. The
neighbourhood

called for details as to the position of the

colonel having told

him

that

knew

thoroughly, he put several questions to

the

me

as to the fords

that might be passable, the conformation

and irregularities of
the ground, and the position of the enemy.
The Emperor
questioned me searchingly as to where the Russians were
massed, whether on the right or left bank of the Vilia. He
evidently wished to ascertain whether the road along the
Vilia was free, intending to march in that direction in
heavy columns, so as to seize this centre of operations, and
cut off the enemy's corps, which were spread along the
whole length of the Niemen.
" When
Napoleon returned we noticed a marked
change of expression. He looked happy, even merry,
being e\identh' satisfied

with the idea of

the

surprise

which he was preparing for the Russians on the following

morning, and of which he had calculated the results beforehand.
Some refreshments were brought to him, which he
ate in our midst on the high-road.
He seemed amused at
his masquerade, and asked us twice if the Polish uniform
suited him.
After having breakfasted, he said laughing,
Now we must return what does not belong to us.' He
then took off the garments which he had borrowed, put on
his uniform of Chasseur of the Guard, entered his carriage
accompanied by Berthier, and rapidly drove away.
That very day he inspected several other points on the
Niemen, and chose Poniemon as the place of crossing.
General Haxo accompanied him on this tour."
" This reconnaissance being finished," adds Segur,
" he issued an order
that on the following evening
'

three bridges should

Then he returned

be thrown across the

to his quarters,

river.

where he passed the

NAPOLEON

6o
da}- partly in

seeking rest

liis

in

tent

RUSSIA

IN

and partly

in

a I'olish house, vainly

the sultry heat that prevailed."

When the army bct^an the passage next day, Napoleon

took up a position near the bridge, and encouraged the
by

soldiers

him with the

But his impatience would not allow him
to reinain long on this spot.
He crossed the bridge and
galloped through the forest that stretches along the bank
customary

his presence, while they greeted

cries.

of the stream, careering along at

though
"

in pursuit

What

witness, "

is

of

some

to be said of an

who

dresses

to his outposts, orders

from the Niemen

in a

up

full

speed on his Arab, as

invisible foe.

in

Emperor," remarks an eye-

an outlandish disguise, rides off

some one

to bring

helmet, and tastes

seer waiting for inspiration?

it

him some water

with the

air

of a

would have been better to

keep these absurd tricks for the banks of the Nile, among
the superstitious nations for whose behoof they were invented, rather than bring them over to Europe."
"

It

Napoleon," says Boutourline,

the First

Army

of the

"

was preparing

West with

his

to crush

Guards, Davout's,

Army Corps, and Nansouty's, Montand Grouchy 's cavalry 250,000 men in all by a
sudden attack on the centre before the Second Army could
Oudinot's, and Ney's

brun's,

come

to its support.

corps of

Junot,

The King

Poniatowski,

of Westphalia, with the

and Renier, and

Latour-

Maubourg's cavalry, making a force of 80,000, was to

execute the same manoeuvre against the Second Army.
The Viceroy of Italy, with an army of about the same
strength, consisting of his own corps and that cf St. Cyr,
was to throw himself between the two Russian armies, and
cut off all communication between them.
On the left.
Major Macdonald's division, some 30,000 strong, was to
enter Courland and threaten St. Petersburg and the

NAPOLEON
Russian

right.

On

the

6i

Schwarzenberg and the

right,

Austrians, also about 30,000 strong, were to hold

in

Tormasof

check."

It was a well-conceived plan, and the movements of the

French on Vilna were so swift and decisive that General
Dokhturofs corps and Dorokhof's division were almost

cut

off.

This

brilliant

number of

beginning was, however, followed by a

The execution of the plan was marred

mistakes.

b}' the slowness of the King of Westphalia (who soon afterwards threw up his command and returned home), and by
the Emperor's own irresolution.
Napoleon appears to have
lost sight of the fact that he should have taken the direct
road from \^ilna to Smolensk as his principal line of
operations.
If he had concentrated the whole weight of his
army on this line he would have successfully outflanked
Barclay on the left and Bagration on the right, and might
then ha\'e fallen on either of them with the whole strength
of his army, or, indeed, on both simultaneously.
It was

with the object of taking the Russians by surprise that

Napoleon crossed the frontier without declaring war, and

appeared at \'ilna the day after the Emperor Alexander
had left.

Mme. de
Napoleon's

Choiseul-Goufifier,
sta}-

in

his visit to the church,

and

saw a

her reminiscences

in

Vilna, describes

"A

among

herald shouted,

short, stout little

man

in a

'

of

other events
IJEiupcreiir

!'

green uniform with

coat unbuttoned, and displaying a white waistcoat, sur-

rounded by a crowd of marshals. He flew b}- like a bullet,

and took up his place behind ?l pric-dicii. When mass was
over he departed at the same lightning speed."
She
describes Napoleon's arrival at a ball

" At the first signal

of his approach the dukes and marshals rushed off to meet

NAPOLEON

62

him

RUSSIA

IN

as quickly as they could hurr)-

and

to tell the truth,

We

were hustled
their faces were a most amusin<^ sight.
down the stairs almost on all fours. Napoleon's carriage
drove up, with the Master of the Horse, M. Caulaincourt,

They

behind.

galloping

down

put

a footstool

for

the

ICmperor to alight on, as if the earth were unworthy of the

honour of being trodden by his Imperial foot. He went
When he
VEnipcrciir !'
/ Vir
up-stairs amid shouts of
'

entered the salon he cried, as

giving an order, 'Ladies,

if

"

be seated
" Napoleon's
!

'

''

later on,

face," says

appeared to

me

Madame

de Choiseul-Gouffier^

as severe as an antique bust,

of the colour of yellow marble."

And

further

"

and

Napoleon's

when lighted up by his beautiful smile was

and even when seen closer his pallor was not
remarkable. What is most noteworthy is that his counteHe
nance expresses more good-nature than genius.
expression
pleasant,

knew^ every bit of gossip,"

The

distance between

armies led

Napoleon

the

head-quarters of the two

to express

the

belief that " in all

Alexander and m>'self meetHowever, when the opportunity

of making terms did present itself, Napoleon let it pass.
Balachef, the Russian general, presented himself at the
probability, they are afraid of

ing and coming to terms."

French outposts demanding a parley. When they conducted him into Napoleon's presence at Vilna, he declared,
" If there is war between Russia and
in Alexander's name
France, it will be a long and bloody war, and before entering upon it the Russian Emperor solemnly proclaims that

it is

not he

who

Ambassador has
there

is still

is

responsible for

left Paris,

time to come to terms

Havine been

told

that

it.

Though

the Russian

war has not yet been declared

the

it is

not yet too

late."

messenger who had been

NAPOLEON

63

embassy was the Minister of Police, the

French suspected that the sole object of his coming was to
observe the position of the army and to gain time. They
regarded his visit, therefore, as a sign of weakness in the
selected for the

Government, and received his overtures with

Besides, it would have cost Napoleon a great
coldness.
struggle, after refusing to listen to any explanations at
What would
Paris, to adopt a conciliatory tone in Vilna.
Russian

Europe think of him ? What possible explanation could

enormous preparations, the vast movements
of troops and expenditure of money? It would have been
tantamount to a confession of defeat. Besides, he had
gone so far in his utterances before the allies as to
render retreat almost impossible. But this was not all.
Napoleon lost control over himself, and broke out, as
He used insultusual, into complaints and reproaches.
ing language in speaking of the Emperor Alexander
there be of the

to the

Vilna

What

strength with

does he want

me?

only counsellor

Whom

does he

is

Why

"

Russian general.

He, this carpet knight

himself;

mean

who

to look to

he, therefore, will not be selected

was old and

useless

did he ever

Does he mean

he

is

in his

will

is

six years

dotage now

to

match

his

Napoleon's

advise

Kutuzof

come

to

the

Tsar?

a Russian,

ago Benigsen
Barclay, no
;

and capacity but he only

added spitefully
Napoleon
retreating."
displays it by
" You all imagine that you imderstand the art of war
because you have read your Jomini, but if Jomini's book
doubt,

is

man

of courage

were enough to teach you generalship, do you think I

should have allowed it to be printed ?
It is difficult to understand how, after sending such an
insolent answer to his "friend and brother," Napoleon
could bring himself to assure him later on of his unswerving

NAPOLEON

64

On

devotion.

IN

the other liand,

it

is

RUSSIA
easy to appreciate

why

and brother" after this message received all

the French Emperor's subsequent blandisliments in stony
his "

frieiifl

silence.

Napoleon began

alarmed at the proclamations and

St. Petersburg Cabinet.
lie
dis])la)-ed a naive astonishment at the expressions of hatred
and anger which were levelled at his own jjcrson. What
to be

manifestoes issued

had ha|)pened
that

by the

Emperor Alexander, who had up

to the

time been

so

suave and gentle?

It

is

said

to

that

Napoleon endeavoured to keep these vigorous proclamathe knowledge of his army, and commanded

tions from

that the Russians should be represented as disheartened

and on the point of disbanding the Russian Emperor as

having actually left .his troops and fled to St. Petersburg
in order to implore assistance and mollify the wrath of the
Senate, which was demanding an ex])lanation of what had
happened the Russian generals as ha\ing lost their heads;
and the people at large as ready to fling themselves in
;

despair at Napoleon's

feet.

S^gur has preserved to us the (M'dcr of march of the

French troops. The army advanced in column ready for
instant battle, the Emperor on horseback in the centre.
Rivers were cros.sed by fords which soon, however, became
impassable, and the regiments

in

the rear crossed elsewhere,

head about
one remained
behind to point out the dangers, if there were an}-, or the
ICach corps d^vnnr was
route, where several roads met,

wherever they could

them. The

left

no one troubled

staff neglected these details.

to shift for

itself.

his

No

Duverger is yet more categorical " The retreat has

often been described, but the long and difficult march
\\hich preceded our misfortunes has never been sufficiently

NAPOLEON

65

mentioned. Worn out by the rays of a tropical sun, we

were reduced to drink foul stagnant water, to eat biscuits
Famine and dysentery
served out with a sparing hand.
destroyed as

many

soldiers as did the war."

Labaume, another eye-witness, completes this picture

" This immense gathering of men on one spot increased
the confusion and disorder that reigned on the high-roads.
orderlies
Stray soldiers sought their regiments in vain
while
them
to
deliver
with urgent despatches were unable
arose.
on the bridges and in the ravines a frightful tumult
;

Our soldiers, deprived of their rations, had to provide for

themselves by pillage, and the result was the utmost disorder and paralysis of discipline, the usual forerunners of
the approaching decay of an army."

The

disorganization of the French

into stronger relief

army was thrown

by the excellent order

men from position

in

which BarclayThere

de-Tolly drew
were no deserted wagons, no dead horses, not a single
off his

to position.

straggler or deserter.

troops moved, of course, not only along the

The French

high-road, but also

by by-roads, and often by hardly percame across

ceptible footpaths, destroying everything they

on their way, and feeding their horses on the standing

They camped at night in the midst of the crops,
trampling and destroying them without scruple in the hope
of getting some shelter, however slight, from the heat and
The soldiers, according to the account of French
rain.

corn.

eye-witnesses,

neighbourhood searching for

the inhabitants, and turned them out of

roamed

food, ill-treated

the

homes, looted the houses, carried off all the live stock,
and indulged in excesses strangely at variance with their
vaunted mission of civilization.
" The army at last approached Vitebsk," says de la
their

NA1'()L1'X)X

66

RUSSIA

IX

accompanied the expedition. "A number of

cavalry and infantry regiments were extended in line, supported by strong bodies of artillery. Four strong columns
of Foot Guards formed a square, in the centre of which were
three tents
one for the Fmi:)eror, the other two for
_^
his suite.
A squad of twcnt)' Grenadiers, with an
t^' ^/)
'-'\\j;i,-^ officer and a drummer, formed a guard outside the
The camp-fires were lighted, and the various
tents.
\
Flusc, \\ho

regiments sent

fiitiguc

parties to fetch

These were served out in a neighbouring

their

rations.

where

field,

all

the meat and corn had been collected.

"

Around

bustle.

the Emperor's tent there was a great deal of

Generals

and

aides-de-camps

were

constantly

was known that the

enemy were not far off, and a decisive battle was expected.
" The Emperor left his camp two or three times with a
Resting it on the shoulder of one
telescope in his hand.
inspected V^itebsk and the neighofficers
men,
he
or
of the
bouring hills. Beyond the town a broad plain was \isible,
on which Russian cavalry and infantr\- were performing
some evolutions.
" Napoleon looked at them
To-morrow the}- will be

coming and going

at full speed

for

it

'

he said. Then he gave orders to prepare for battle.

Soldiers,
proclamation was read before each regiment
To-morrow
the day we have longed for has come at last.
ours,'

'

which we have waited so long.

We must end the campaign with a single thunder-claji.
Remember your victories at Austerlitz and Friedland the
enemy shall see to-morrow that we have not degenerated.'
"The proclamation was enthusiastically received; the
all hoped that this
troops were confident of victory
battle would end a war of which thc\' had alrcad}' had
more than enough, l^rand}' was distributed, and after

we

shall fight the battle for

NAPOLEON

6j

supper and the various preparations for the morrow they

turned

in,

many

thinking, no doubt, that this would be

their last night.

Next morning they were up by dawn, dressed in their

if for some festival.
Every eye was turned
to the quarter in which the enemy had been mancjeuvring
on the previous day
but the plain was empty as
the sun rose it became clear that the Russian army had
"

smartest, as

disappeared.

The drum began

"

continues

the

Emperor's

to beat outside the

same

writer.

"

This

meant

Grenadiers on guard were being relieved.

my

with
relief

companions

that

the

hurried up

order to ask the officer of the

in

he had heard any news,

if

close to the
thing.

tent,"

He

Emperor's
us

told

when he heard of

tent,

that

for, placed as he was

he might have heard some-

Napoleon flew into a passion

the enemy's

When

retreat.

Prince

who

had instructions to cross the Dvina

with the cavalry, sweep behind the Russians and cut off
their retreat
entered the tent, the officers of the Guard
heard what passed.
The Prince came to report that it
was absolutely impossible to cross the Dvina, as he could
find no ford, and the water had risen in consequence of
the recent storm.
His horses, moreover, had had no
fodder.
Thereupon high words passed between the Emperor and Poniatowski, the former rating the Prince
Poniatowski

roundly for not carrying out his instructions, Poniatowski

for his part being at no loss for a reply.

"'So you urge want of fodder

Napoleon.

said
in

Egypt

it

'

may

tell

you,

as an excuse. Prince?'
sir,

that

was not once nor twice that

when
had

to

was

make

expeditions without fodder.'

"
'

Of

course,

your Majesty,' replied Poniatowski, un-

NAPOLKOX

68
abashed,

with their
is

often the salvation

I

in

if you recollect,
and were obliij^ed

Then

Some

Lackint^ fodder as

of cavalry.

ran the risk of findini^ myself in the jiosition your

Majesty was

"

RUSSIA

IN

do not know what you (cd your horses on out

do know this, that my horses cannot dispense
hay, especially when there is no tjra/.ing', which

'

there, but

did,

the}-

Jean d'Acre;
you were unable to
at

St.

want of horses,
brin;^^ up }-()ur L^uns,
for

to raise the siege.'

both raised their voices and spoke at once.

of the generals

who were

din was so great that

what they were saying.

'go close up to the tent,

present joined

could not

I
'

They

are

make
still

at

)'ou will probabl}-

in,

and the

out a word of
it,'

he added

be able to hear

something.'
" I

my

and

companion approached the

were just strolling

We

b)'.

tent,

as

if

we

could indeed hear the voices

of Napoleon and

Poniatowski, but could gather nothing

distinctly except

the latter saying

know

this

)'Ou that that

countrx'
is

better than

No, your Majesty.

you do, and I assure
'

out of the question here, quite out of the

The two sentries shouldered arms, which meant

so we made off
that the Emperor was just coming out
to
the group of officers
"On parade the Emperor turned
question

'

and said' Gentlemen, you are not maintaining proper

discipline in your corps; there are too many stragglers.
Officers seem to sto[) on the march whenever the)- i)lease,
The}- arc
in order to spend their time in countrj'-houses.
tired of camping out
but true courage does not fear
;

rain)'

weather, nor will

men have no

mud

slain a soldier's honour.

The

under the pretext of

from
their regiments
foraging for provisions they desert
and wander about in disorder. Complaints reach me from
This condition of
ever)' sifle of their lawless bcha\-iour.
regard for discipline;

NAPOLEON
things must be put a stop

to,

69

gentlemen; and those who

absent themselves without leave shall be severely punished.

the event

In

engagement with the enem}', our

of an

regiments would be greatly below their strength.

our army

The

might naturally
have been after a battle, whereas we have not yet even
Marshals Oudinot and Macdonald have
seen the enemy.
secured victories because they had their full complement
of troops when they came to the banks of the Dvina and
efficient force of

is

such as

it

Drissa.'

Then

Emperor

Baron Larre)-, but as he

head of the Ambulance
Corps, presented himself instead.
Napoleon asked him
"
For how many wounded have you bandages read}' ?
"

was not

the

called for

to be found, Dr. Paulet, the

'

"

'

"
'

Ten

thousand,' replied the doctor.

And

about

wound
" About

how many days does

it

take to heal a

answered the doctor.

Emperor, 'you cannot even
give assistance to four hundred men
We shall want many
thirty,'

'

'"If that

so,'

is

replied the

more than that

" There was a low murmur in the crowd, and some one
remarked, I wonder how man)' he thinks there will be
'

killed?'
"

Napoleon must have heard the remark, but he paid no

attention.

doctor,

He

medical stores
"
'

continued

and asked him,

'

his

cross-examination

Where

of

the

ambulance and

are the

.''

They were

left

Vilna

at

for

want of means

of

transport.'
"

'

So the army

is

cried Napoleon, 'and

g"o

without

'

it ?

entirely unprovided with

if

wanted physic

medicine,'

should have to

\.\r()ij':()\

70
"

'

"

IMajcst)'

\'()Lir

replied

tile

has your

own

lU'ssiA
pri\ ate

medical

stores,'

doctor.

made

This

IX

tlie

Emperor very angry.

'

am

the

soldier in the army,' he said, raising his voice, 'and

a right to bs attended to in the

army

Then

hospital.'

he asked where the chief dis[)enser was.

first

have

He was

told

at Vilna.

"'What!'
officers

cried

'One

Napoleon.

absent from the arm)^

of the chief medical

Let him be sent back to

women

Paris to peddle his drugs to the

Ilonore

Appoint some one

whole medical service

The arm)'

did

of the

else in his place,

Rue

and

let

St.

the

rejoin the army.'"

meet with the same enthusiastic

not

The

reception at Vitebsk as at Vilna.

inhabitants treated

the r^'ench not as liberators, but as conquerors.

Evidently
Lithuania was not particularly well pleased at the prospect

of re-union with

its

native Poland, for the disposition of the

means friendly.
Napoleon made great efforts to impress the Lithuanians.
In a single audience he would discourse upon religion and
the drama, war and the arts.
He rode about at all hours
of the day or night, gixing orders to build a bridge here,
and a bastion there, and on the eve of an engagement he
would appear at a ball or a concert. He evidently did his
best to astonish the natives by his versatilit}'.
As the Russians had left Vilna and it was impossible to
overtake them. Napoleon returned to this town on July 28.
According to Segur, when he entered his head-quarters
he took off his sword, threw it on the table, which was
covered with maps and plans, and said in a loud voice,
" Here I am, and here
shall look about me,
shall sta)complete my army, give it a rest, and organize Poland.
The campaign of 181 2 is at an end that of 1813 will do
inhabitants was by no

NAPOLEON

71

Orders were given to provision the arm}- for

thirty-six days, and extensive plans were announced.
Napoleon did not neglect amusements actors were to be
"

the rest

brought from Paris to Vitebsk for a winter season, and as

the town was empty the audience was to be drawn from

Warsaw and
"

Vilna.

Murat," said the French Emperor, turning to the King

of Naples, "the

first

Russian campaign

plant our standards here.

position

we

will

Two

is

over.

We

will

broad rivers outline our

build block-houses

along this natural

entrenchment, commanded by artillery in every direction.

We will form a square with guns at the angles and on each
front, and within this square we will build our barracks and

The year

magazines.
in

Petersburg

St.

1813 will see us

the

in

war with Russia

Moscow; 1814

shall

be a three

)'ears'

On

war
the same day he turned
attached to the

officials

to

one of the principal

army and said, " As

that we are properly

for }'ou,

civil

my

provisioned,
you must see
mistake
the
of
Charles
XII."
for we must not repeat
It was at this very time that Napoleon received news
that peace had been concluded between Russia and the
Porte.
"The Turks," he said, "will pay dearly for their
mistake.
It is such a foolish one that I did not even

dear

sir,

foresee

it."

Recognizing that the advance of the Russian army of

Moldavia on his rear had now become both possible and

would be as
well to destroy the two Russian armies in front of him, and
that the sooner this was effected the better.
These and
other circumstances caused him to alter his views.
He
was no longer convinced that his wisest course was to stay
at Vitebsk, and he became at once anxious and irresolute.
probable, he began to think that perhaps

it

NArOLP.OX

72

For a solution of
bicn,

what are we

or go on

Is

it

his

doubts he would

whom

phrases to intimates

do

to

RUSSIA

IN

eh?

Shall

right to stop

we

or something that

would

" /://,

we are,
Then without

stay where

half-way?"

waiting for an answer, he would go on as

somebody

broken

in

a])j)cal

he met as he went about.

if

looking for

settle the question for

Brooding over these questions, not daring to make

mind, he would fling himself on his bed in
nothing but his shirt, overpowered by the heat and his

him.

up

his

anxiety.
In this

way he passed

the greater

of his time at

])art

Meanwhile the advantages of a forward movement appealed to him more and more strongly.
"If we stay in Vitebsk," he argued, "we must make up
our minds to die a lingering death o{ oniiii during the seven
long winter months!
I, who have always been the first to
attack, obliged to stand on the defensive
Shame and
dishonour await me. All Europe will say, He stayed at
Vitebsk because he dared not advance
Am I to give
Russia time to arm ? And how long am I to
up with
this uncertainty, which is undermining m}' reputation for
Vitebsk.

'

'

\)\.\\.

inxincibility, already

What

will the

have

lost

b)'

world think when

the sick and those

I

shaken

the resistance of Spain

learns that,

it

who have fallen behind

my army ?
must

a third of

what with

or disappeared,

dazzle the eyes

of the nations with the glamour of a brilliant success

the

laurels of victory will cover a multitude of losses."

Napoleon began

to find at last that Vitebsk

nothing but misfortune and

loss,

with

all

promised

the discomforts

and anxieties of standing on the defensive while Moscow

on the other hand offered the most signal advantages
;

provisions,
least,

peace

money

contributions, glor\-, and, last

but not

Dispatch.

NAPOLEON

71

But the more resolutely the Emperor wished to act, the

more obtrusive were the prevailing signs of discouragement
and discontent. After two weeks of rest the soldiers began
to complain that they had gone too far already, and that
They abused everythe prospects of war were gloom>'.
and approved
campaign,
the
thing that tended to prolong
it.
of everything that might possibly shorten
The Emperor, who wished at any cost to secure general
approval of his plans, even from those

who

did not as a

rule give expression to their views, called a council of the

invited
lives
"

perhaps

to speak

army, and his colleagues were

of the

officers

principal

for the first

their

The more vigour

minds
the

time

in their

freeh'.

enemy

displays,"

he said to the marshals and generals who

surrounded him, " the less ought we to
slacken

in

our attack.

We

must not give

these Oriental fanatics time to gather to-

gether against us from their remotest wilds.

How
July?

can

we go

up a campaign
of his

into winter quarters in

And what
own

sense

like

recent

is

this

there,"

into

he asked,

several

" in

parts

"

breaking
forgetful
"

advocacy of the opposite view.

Be

assured, gentlemen, that I have pondered deeply over

Our troops are ahva)'s ready to advance, an
the question.
offensive

war

is

a war after their

stay in one place

is

own

hearts,

whereas a long

not acceptable to the French tempera-

To shelter ourselves behind frozen rivers, sit in

huts and endure privation and ennui for eight months,
with daily manoeuvres and never a step in advance is that
The winter
the style of warfare we are accustomed to?
ment.

mud

has other terrors than

less

its frosts.

diplomatic intrigues.

Is

it

It

may

bring with

it

end-

safe, think you, to give

all

NAPOLEON

74
these allies

but

side,

our ranks
natural
"

is

Why

we can

whom

have successful!)' won over to our

doubt not, in
I

\vc

who

feci

to

give

RUSSIA

IN

strangely out of place,

them

time,

sa}',

how

to realize

un-

their position?
should we remain inactive for eight months when

attain our end in twenty

the winter

We

Let us

days?

forestall

we do not
not in Moscow

run the risk of losing

all

if

and decisive blow. If we are

twenty days, it is possible we shall never get there at
If peace be signed at Moscow, I shall have won the
all.

strike a swift
in

most glorious of

best and
It

all

was, however, already

my

victories
late

tcx)

in

"
!

the year, and the

marshals were of opinion that further advance was out of

Berthier, Prince of Neufchatel, was so bold

the question.

as to urge this fact

"

Begone

only a

upon the lunperor, and

The Emperor gave him

reasons.
!

he

"
.

to explain his

warm

reception.

have no need of you, you are

will keep no one with me
back home

said.

Go

a very

"

against his will."

Berthier, however, endeavoured to dissuade Napoleon
from the decision he had arrived at, not by argument but
by an appealing glance there seemed almost to be tears
Lobau and Caulaincourt tried to influence
in his eyes.
open opposition, which took the form of
more
him by
;

bluntness with the former and jiersistence with the latter.

The Emperor angrily swept all their opinions and advice

and replied with the remark, aimed more

particularly at Caulaincourt and Berthier, that he had

on one

.side,

" They can think of nothing

his generals too rich.
but hunting and driving about Paris in expensive carriages
they are sick of the very name of war."

made

To

Duroc,

who

also

that hc'lvas perfectl)'

opposed him, the Emperor replied

well aware that the Russians were

NAPOLEON

75

him on, but he must get to Smolensk at any

There he would go into winter quarters, and in the
cost.
spring of 1813, if Russia did not end the war, he would
end Russia. " Smolensk," he said, " was the key to two
roads, the road to St. Petersburg and the road to Moscow
and they must seize it because they would then be able
to destroy the one and
to attack both capitals at once
remarked that peace
Caulaincourt
other."
preserve the
would be no nearer at Smolensk or Moscow than it was at
Vitebsk, and that to advance so far, relying upon the
fidelity of the Prussians, was the height of rashness. When
the Emperor asked Count Daru for his opinion, he replied
that it was not a popular war, and that neither the imtrying to lure

portation of P^nglish goods nor the restoration of Poland

was a
"

sufficient

justification

so distant a campaign.

for

Neither wc nor our troops can see the necessity or object

and everything points to the advisability of stopping

where we are."
" do they think
" Great heavens " cried the Emperor
Do they imagine that this
that I am out of my mind ?
war gives me any pleasure ? I have always said that the
Spanish and Russian wars are the two sores that are
sucking away the life of France, and that they are more
of

it,

than she can bear at once.

wish

for peace,

but

in

order

must be two sides,

whereas there is but one at present for" Alexander has
not vouchsafecT two words as yet. What good can we
to

enter upon

preliminaries

there

expect from staying at Vitelask

bounded by two

rivers,

but

in

True, the position

is

winter there are no rivers

in

Here
they will be merely imaginar\- lines.
want for everything, and shall have to buy whatever we need
whereas in Moscow there is plenty to be
had for nothing. I might of course retire to Vilna, but
this

we

country

shall

NAPOLEON

76
even

if

defence

jM-oxisions could

more

is

more
and

difficult,

RUSSIA

I\

easily be obtained at \'ilna,

for

real

we should

safety

Niemen, which means the

have to retreat be}'ond the

abandonment of Lithuania.
On tlie other hand, if I
advance to Smolensk I shall either secure a decisive
victory or a strong position on the Dnieper.

"If we were always to wait

for the

most favourable

combination of circumstances no enterprise would ever be

undertaken. There can be no end without a beginning
there never was an enterprise in which everything fitted in

chance plays a leading part in all the affairs

Obedience to rule does not ensure success, but
success on the other hand furnishes a canon of conduct,
and if this campaign be successful, these new triumphs
will doubtless give new guidance for the future.
" No blood has as yet been spilled, but Russia is too great
Alexander could not come to
to yield without a struggle.
perfectly, for

of men.

terms, even
will
I

inflict

if

he would, except after a serious defeat.

what
up by advancing to

that defeat, cost

will follow

it

it

may, and

if

need

their sacred city.

be,

am

me at the gates of Moscow.

Alexander remains obdurate, I will w in oxer the
nobles and the inhabitants of the city to my side. They
confident that peace awaits

Even

will

if

know

own

their

recognize the value

"hates
their

may

St.

indixidual

of

liberty."

Petersburg, and

rivalry

the

intere.-t

"

best,

they

will

Moscow," he added,

intend to avail

myself of

consequences of their mutual jealousy

prove incalculable."

Such, according to Segur, and others, was the line of

who inclined more and

immediate advance on Moscow.
Sebastiani's disaster at Licova at last furnished him with
The Russian cavalry
a definite excuse for advancing.
reasoning adopted by Napoleon,

more

strongly

to

an

NAPOLEON

77

utterl}' routed the opposing French horse, and the dash

and daring of the attack compelled the Emperor to seek
some opportunity of retrieving the disaster by a decisive

victory.

moment was, howmovements of the French army, and

the well-conceived plan of separating the two Russian
armies and destroying each of them in detail was never
Napoleon's want of decision at this

ever, reflected in the

carried out.

The

great efforts of the Russians

to effect

junction helped to upset the invader's plans.

Russia, from the

in

Emperor

speedy

Ever}'

man

to the last recruit, 15eTTe\ed

that fPtHe'lirmies were once united, not onl}- would they

cease their retrograde movement, but they would be able

upon the enemy, who had already over-reached himAs a matter

self by penetrating too far into the country.
of fact the Russian Commander-in-chief had no intention
of assuming the offensixe against such overwhelming
to

fall

forces.

The account

given

b}-

Dumas, Gencral-Inteiidant of the

French arm\-, throws valuable light upon this point. He

says that one of the officers spent three months in Memel
on terms of intimacy with Barclay-de-Toll}', who was
brought there after receiving a terrible wound at E}-lau.

The

officer in

question clearly recollected the details of the

plan of "successive retreats"

hoped

to lure the formidable

heart of Russia,
it

by which the Russian general

French army into the very
beyond the Moskva to wear

"

out, separate

it

and tempt

if

possible

as far as possible from

its

base of opera-

it to waste its ammunition and provisions.

same time he proposed carefulh' to nurse the
Russian forces until the frosts came to their aid and the
time was ripe for commencing offensive operations, and

tions,

At

the

NAPOL]<:OX

78
sLibjcctini;"

the Volga.

RUSSIA

IN

Xapolcon to a second Pultava on the banks of

This grim })rogramme was but too faithfully

executed."

Napoleon was aware that he was b^ing " lured on," as

it
but, as we ha\e alread}' seen, he could not
refrain from advancing, if not to Moscow, at any rate to
Smolensk. He moved on, therefore, to the latter town,
still adding to the list of so-called " victories " chronicled
he called

in his bulletins.

These bulletins were the more

credible,

inasmuch as the

Russian plan of retreat lent them a sort of colour.

I'rench

\\'ere

retreating

the inference was of course that the former

were gaining a
described

is

series of victories.

"

XVII.

in Bulletin

the advantage

ment

The

always advancing and the Russians always

really

rested with the

amounted

to this

Even Neverofsk\''s exploit

"engagement in which
French." The "engage-

as an

Neverofsky's division, while

hurriedly withdrawing towards Smolensk, was overtaken

b}'

Murat and surrounded by

thirty regiments of cavalry,

together with Nansouty's and Grouchy 's arm}' corps and

in this dangerous
formed square, and continued
The French cavalr}', though they
his retreat in that order.
fell
upon the little detachment on every side, found it
impossible to break through, even after forty attacks.

the Light

Brigade.

Finding himself

position, the Russian general

The French surrounded the Russians so closely that

they were able to exchange words with them, and Murat
more than once called upon X'everofsk)- to surrender. He
only managed, however, to capture seven Russian guns,
and Napoleon greeted him with the remark, not unmerited,
that he should have brought back

guns, but a whole

"

not only those wretched

Russian division as well."

At Smolensk Napoleon spent an evening

in

personally

Russian Grenadieks

NAPOLEON

79

questioning prisoners, and in congratulating himself on the

fact that

he had at

He

attacked

and

falling

it,

on

come up with

last

Dnieper to attack the

left

the town, for Napoleon's

army

to the right over the

flank of the Russians defending

army was

so

numerous that he
It is said

could well afford to divide his forces.

in

it

might have made a demonstrawith a strong detachment, and mean-

while sent the main body of the

did

of outflanking

He

its rear.

tion before the city

the Russian army.

in front, instead

however,

not find the ford over the

that he

but could

fact intend to cut off Prince Bagration,

river.

Marshal Davout for the fearful

losses sustained at Smolensk, holding that these sacrifices
were due to his want of foresight. They blame Napoleon,
moreover, almost unanimously, for failing to surround the

The P>ench

Russians.

"

censure

In storming the fortifications of Smolensk,"

says the author of the Letters on the Russian Campaigti of

1812,

"when he might have contented himself with

rounding the city and cannonading

mistake.

In

it,

allowing the Polish infantry to

pieces so near their

own

country, he

sur-

he committed a
be cut to

made a second

mistake.

In advancing into a huge and resourceless country at the

beginning of winter, he

into a third

fell

and

far

more

serious

error."

After the battle of Smolensk Napoleon was seen riding

over the
"

field

and rubbing

Five Russians," he said,

however, was not the

his

" for

fact, for

they said, but nearer 20,000.

hands with an

air

every Frenchman

of glee.
"

This,

the French lost not 8000 as

Bourgeois admits a

loss,

besides 6000 killed, of 10,000 wounded, though according

to the usual ratio the

greater.

not more.

He

number of wounded would be

still

puts the Russian loss at the same number,

This

is

not surprising, in view of the fact that

NAPOLEON

8o

the Russians uerc

were

fi<^^htini^

attackin;j^ in the

RUSSIA

IX

under cover,

wiiile the

French

open, and were several times repulsed.

Russian authorities, on the other hand, admit that our

Smolensk filled many of our countr}'men with

dismay, although they had hitherto looked ujjon the inlosses at

vasion with the utmost indifference.

and desolation presented by the

fearful in the

extreme.

Some

The

scenes of terror

interior of the

town were

of the streets were

litcrall}'

burned to cinders, and the roadway filled with dead and

d}in!4", man)' of whom were half-consumed by the fiames.
When Napoleon, from the old tower on the city walls,
surv'eyed

the

Russian

arm)'

that had
on the previous

position

been occupied
da)',

b\'

the

he perceived that

no longer there
he had again
Napoleon had failed in his endeavour to annihiescaped
late the Russian arm)', and the capture of a city in ashes
did not represent the final paralyzing blow which could
Barclay-de-Tolly was
!

justify his losses in the eyes of

The French Emperor

Europe.

already appreciated the necessity

of lowering his haughty Dresden tone, and took every oppor-

on the troubled waters that threatened

letter sent b)' Marshal l^erthier to
Barcla)^-de-Tolly under the specious j^rctext of offering his
sympathy and condolence, but serving as a matter of fact
to cloak an attempt to oj^en indirect overtures, contained
" The Emperor, to whom I have
the following passage
communicated the contents of this letter, desires me,
Monsieur le Baron, to beg you to convey the assurance of
his respect to the Emperor Alexander if he is still with
Pray tell him that the sentiment of esteem
the army.
and friendship which the I'lmperor Napoleon entertains
tunity of throwing

oil

The

to engulf him.

towards him

will

of warfare nor

b\'

be impaired neither by the vicissitudes

an\' other circumstances."

NAPOLEON

These tentative approaches did not ehcit any reply.

Napoleon then availed himself of the first convenient
opportunity that occurred to mention his peaceful inclinations and intentions to his prisoner, General Tutshkof, begging him to communicate them to his brother, another general
in the Russian arm}% "It was not I that began the war," he
" Why do the Russians retreat ?
Why have they
said.
abandoned Smolensk to me ? There is nothing I desire so
heartily as peace."
He also begged Tutshkof to mention
that the Commander-in-Chief was wrong in carrying all the
civic functionaries away with him.
He invited Tutshkof
to constitute a sort of tribunal

of arbitration

decide

to

which of the contending parties had more chance of victory,

and if that question was decided in favour of the Russians,
if for the French,
to appoint a rendezvous for a battle
then why shed blood in vain, and why not discuss terms
and conclude peace ? It was also through Berthier that
he called upon the Emperor Alexander to instruct the
;

governors not to leave their posts.

Such overtures could not of course be expected to have

any result their only justification is to be sought in the
pitiable frame of mind to which Napoleon was then reduced.
He began to realize how gigantic was the enterprise he had
undertaken an enterprise that grew in magnitude the
further he ach'anced.
He was now dealing with a nation
in arms
with a second Spain, but more powerful, more
remote, vaster in extent, and more unproclucti\e
The name of Charles XII., \\c arc told, was at this time
;

alwa}-s on^his lips.

?^Iuraf'''^T'?r5'''bnce

Russians refuse to give battle

pursue them it is time to stop."
;

Napoleon,

heard to say to
it

is

'^

If the

not worth while to

The Emperor

him with some warmth';~"tlTough what he

said

is

ans\vered

not known.
G

NAPOLEON

82
It

RUSSIA

IX

was, however, subscqucntl)- understood from the Kin^^ of

own h'ps that he went on his knees to his brotherand implored him to stop. Napoleon, however,
would hear of no halt short of Moscow, which held everyhonour, ij^lory, and repose.
thing that was dear to him
" Every one remarked," says Segur, " that when Murat left
Napoleon after his interview his face wore an expression of
deep affliction, and his gestures were excited and abrupt
"
he repeatedly uttered the words, Oh, ce Moscou
So soon as he made up his mind to advance, Napoleon
Naples'

in-law,

'

'

acquired complete

again

command

He

himself

over

and tranquil, as was usual when he had

became
After the battle of
definitely settled upon any project.
Zabolotye or Valutina, as the French called it he said
cheerful

We

have come too

thought of glory
alone I should return to Smolensk, plant my standard there,
and treat the town as my own. The campaign would be

"

far to retire

if I

Peace

ended, although not the war.

only eight days' march from

that we are so near our goal ?

it.

li)i

lies

before us

we

Shall
avaiit

to

we are

hesitate

Moscow

now
"
!

The best answer to this resolve was given in one of the

Emperor Alexander's proclamations " He threatens to
march on Moscow let him do so. Even if he is victorious

he

will still share the fate of

Charles XII."

Napoleon himself was far from feeling the confidence

which he endeavoured to inspire into others. For instance,
" It
in writing to Marshal Victor from Smolensk he said
in
where
I
seek
it
shall
not
find
peace
that
I
ma\' be that

case

shall

be able to

retire

under cover of }'our reserves

steadily and without precipitation."

one compare the words of Napoleon at the beginning

when his intention was to remain at
Vitebsk, or even at Smolensk, with what he said when his
If

of the campaign,

NAPOLEON
decision to

march on Moscow was

83

irrevocable,

one

is

struck

with wonderment at the total change of ideas, and at the

impulse of which he was the victim.

have already mentioned the plan sketched out by

irresistible

We

Barclay-de-Tolly as to the best method of carrying on the

war in Russia. Barclay was not the only person to recognize the

When
military

weak spot

in

the storm
agent,

Napoleon's genius.

first

began

to gather, Tczernicheff, the

pointed out with remarkable penetration

both the French Emperor's probable course of procedure

and the best way of replying to his intended moves.
" The preparations for the war are complete," he wrote to
the Minister

ofWar at St. Petersburg in

181

1.

"The Emperor

Napoleon's animosity against us increases day by day, and

if this autumn does not see us at war it will only be because

and Napoleon, taking a lesson from the

will perhaps be afraid of the marshes of
Poland. They would of course hinder him in his plans,
which are no doubt to end the campaign in one lightning
stroke, as he has done in all preceding wars.
" Accepting the conclusion that hostilities are unavoidable, we must make every preparation, not only for withstanding the first shock, but for prolonging the war as much
as possible. Experience tells us that this is the only method
by which we can hope for success against Napoleon and
it also tells us that he has always been embarrassed and
led into mistakes of strategy when he has met with prolonged resistance. This is the course which our Government should adopt, in this difficult and critical situation.
It is the only course that offers any hope of final triumph
the season

is late,

Pultusk campaign,

over the world's oppressor.

"

The proper way

to avoid a general

to conduct this war, in

engagement and

to

my

opinion,

conform as

is

far as

NAPOLEON

84

IN RL^SSIA

possible to the -ucrilla tactics adopted against the iM-eiich

troops in Spain, so as to gradually demoralize them, and
reduce by starvation the enormous forces they will bring

against us."

who was at
"In the
interesting:
also
is
Sweden,
that time King of
to her
France,
it
is
position in which Russia stands towards
advantage to prolong the war, because it is in her power to
do so, but not in Napoleon's. One ought to depend as
advice given by Marshal Bcrnadotte,

The

as possible

little

upon chance.

It is

therefore essential to

avoid big battles and endeavour to reduce the war to a

You must have plenty of Cosseries of petty skirmishes.

You must

sacks.

his supplies.

capture Napoleon's baggage and cut off

Even

if

you have

to retire behind the Dvina,

nav, behind the Neva, so long as you continue to offer a

resistance everything will turn out well, and

stubborn

Napoleon will meet at the hands of Alexander with the

meted out to Charles XII. by Peter the (ireat.
" Napoleon neglects nothing that can conduce to sucbut his means are already exhausted, and he cancess
lie lacks men, money, and
not stand a two years' war.
and the further he
undertaking;
horses for such an
advances the worse he will fare. But of course it would be

fate

best

if

such extremities could be avoided, for the provinces

and the reverses that may be expected

will suffer severely,

in

the early

part of the

campaign

will

produce a bad

impression."

of these prudent counsels, we were all but hoist

with our own petard at Drissa. Nevertheless, looking back,
we may now say that it was a good thing for Russia that
In

si^ite

we were obliged to retire behind the Dvina, inasmuch as

we should otherwise have had great difficultv' in coping
with our opponents.

NAPOLEON

85

Napoleon marched straight on Moscow.

In passing
through Viazma he came upon signs of want of disciph"ne

made him

that

struck

furious.

He

rode into a crowd of soldiers

some of them, knocked

others

down with

his horse,

and ordered a canteen-keeper to be arrested, tried, and

But they allowed the poor wretch to kneel in the
road, surrounded by a fictitious family group consisting of
a woman and a few borrowed children, when the Emperor
was passing by, and this stratagem saved his life. Fezensac
mentions it " In passing through the little town of Viazma,
Napoleon came upon some soldiers who had looted a winecellar.
He flew into an ungovernable passion, charged
down upon them, and began abusing them and hitting
right and left with his riding-whip.
The impossibility of
catching up the Russian arm}-, and the devastations they
had made on our line of march, angered him so much that
he fell foul of everybody he came across." ^
shot.

*******

Prince Kutuzof had been appointed Commander-in-Chief

of the Russian army, and Napoleon hastened to gather

all

new opponent. He was deman who had originally attracted

possible information as to his

him as " an old

by virtue of a most interesting and unusual wound."
From that time he had made the most of his opportunities.
Even the defeat which he had suffered at Austerlitz, and
which he had foretold, served only to raise his reputation.
But it was exalted still higher by the last campaign against
the Turks.
There was no doubt that he was a man of
scribed to
notice

1 There seems to be
no doubt about the incident in question. But
though it would appear that the French plundered the houses in
Viazma, Napoleon writes in Bulletin XVI. "The Cossacks pillaged

Viazma

so

completely before their departure that the inhabitants

do not think there

is

allegiance to Russia."

much chance

of the town ever renewing

its

NAPOLEON

86

IN

RUSSIA

was accused of attending too closely to his

and having an eye to some personal end in all
his actions.
He was, further, a man of ])hlegi"natic and
unforgiving character, and abo\e all of great cunning in
fact a thorough Tartar
rather a courtier than a general,
but redoubtable on account of his reputation. To the
pints, but lie

own

interest,

Russians his
but not

|)erson, his conversation, his dress, and,

least, his

last

superstitions and even his age, recalled

Suvoroff and the Russia of the days of Catharine the Great

fact that

Moscow

endeared him to his fellow-countr}'men.

ment was so great

that the j)cople

latory embraces in the streets.

All were confident that the

new Commander-in-Chief would, b}- hook or by

prove more than a match for NapolecMi.
The arrival of Kutu/.of at head-tiuarters created an
lent

impression on the arm)',

succession

of

retreats

had

destro)'ed, confidence in their

chiefly

In

by his appointexchanged congratu-

the popular enthusiasm aroused

blamed

for

cs|)L'ciall)'

as

undermined,

crook,

excel-

the constant

not

commanders.

to

sa)'

The person

what was considered the cowardice of

our strategy was of course the Commander-in-Chief, a

of great talent and intelligence, who,

when once

man

a plan of

operations had been definitely adopted, was accustomed to

carry

it

out to the bitter end.

He was

completely misun-

b}- his contemporaries, including the Emperor

Alexander, who, )'ielding to the pressure of his entourage,

derstood

expressed signs of impatience, and demanded offensive

The impulsive Prince
and immediate victories.

tactics

Bagration,

who was an

especially strong advocate of the

offensi\e, so far forgot himself as to

make complaints

the iMTij^eror against the Comniander-in-Chief

ever,

upon

to

He, how-

had not the terrible responsibilities that devolved

Parcla}', and he practical!}- admitted in prixate that a

NAPOLEON

87

decisive battle might be disastrous to Russia.

The Em-

War

might decide upon an

attack, but the Commander-in-Chief would inevitably
defeat their intentions, although he would at first pretend
This course of action rendered
to share their enthusiasm.
peror Alexander's Council of

him extremely unpopular.

new Commander-in-Chief, was unwilling to

popularity, and decided to accept
enormous
endanger
battle, although, as a prudent man, he was almost as
strongly opposed to such a course as was his predecessor.
Kutuzof, the
his

It cannot be denied that the selection of the plain of

Borodino for the great defensive battle was creditable both
to Kutuzof and to Colonel Tol, the head of his staff.
" On two lines," says G. de Pimodan, " it is an extremely
strong position, and still worthy of a visit from officers of
the general staff, who may profitably study the scheme of

the defences

that

were hastily constructed.

Their only

weakness was on the left flank."

The French army, which at the passage of the Niemen
numbered 400,000 men, after comparatively insignificant
losses in battle mustered no more than 160,000 when
it

reached the plain of Borodino.

The

question natur-

what had become of the 240,000 men who,

even on the admission of Bulletin XVII., were missing?
Moreover, where did all the Russian troops come from
after being incessantly slaughtered by the French, tens of

ally arises

thousands

at a

time according to Napoleon's bulletins, for

the space of ten weeks, and after the wholesale desertions

which he chronicled ?
On the day before the battle of Borodino, Napoleon,
according to the evidence of his valet, was in a perfectly
He spoke of Russia as if it were
tranquil state of mind.
a smiling province of France.

From

his conversation

it

NAPOLEON

88

IN

RUSSIA

might have been supposed thai the nei_L;hbourhoo(l was a

vast granar)- ready-stored for the arm}-, and offering all
for

faciUties
first

was about to
Gjatsk would be the encouragement of agriculwas evidently enchanted by the vistas that

new

step of the

estal)lish at

He

ture.

a(hninistralion whicli he

Seldom

opened up before him.

much

so

The

the estabhshment of winter (juarters.

at ease or displa}'ed

liad the

Emperor

such calmness

aj^peared

in

his con-

versation and demeanour.

It

should

be

mentioned that

the

entrenchments

at

Borodino were very slight, partly on account of the haste

which they were constructed, and partly owing to the
that the Second Army, which constituted the left
Bayefsky's batter}', thereflank, had no entrenching tools.
fore, and the entrenchments on the vScm}-onof heights,
were far from formidable. Scarcely anything was done to
Tutshkof's position at Utitsa owing to want of appliances.^
Napoleon regarded the left flank as the weakest part of
in

fact

the Russian

heights
efforts

position,

of Borodino

on

this

point,

and

after

a careful

survey of the

he decided to concentrate
i.e.

on an attack with

his

all

own

his

right.

Marshal Davout then requested the assistance of Toniawhose forces were too weak for independent action,
He proposed to move
to help in outflanking the enemy.
troops and his own
Poniatowski's
with
da\'break
before
towski,

numbering 35,000 men, under cover of the

woods on which the Russians were resting, get behind
them, along the old Smolensk road, and fall suddenl)- on

five divisions,

the rear of the

left flank.

He

pointed out that while the

Emperor was leading the attack from the front, he would

move rapidly from redoubt to redoul)t and from reserve to
'

It is

stated that for a long time llicrc was only one sap])cr atlachcd

to Miloradovitch's

detachment.

NAPOLEON
reserve, disperse

any

89

force he found on the Mozjaisk road,

annihilate the Russian army, and finish the

war

at a single

blow.

This proposal furnished one more proof that Davout

tactician of all the marshals trained in the
school of Napoleon.
If his darini^ project had been carried

was the best

would most probably have thrown the Russian

But Napoleon, after listening
attentively to what the Marshal had to sa}', replied after
out,

it

army

into utter confusion.

a few minutes of silent deliberation

heard-of a mancEuvre

it

will lead

"

No,

me away

it

is

too un-

from m}' main

and make me lose a great deal of time."

The Duke of Eckmiihl, confident in the correctness

object,

of

According to Segur, he undertook to execute the whole manceuvrc by six o'clock in the
morning.
He would answer, he said, for the utter rout of
the Russians.
But Napoleon, evidently displeased at the
his views,

still

persisted.

Marshal's persistence, interrupted him with

always

urging

hazardous

"

"Oh, you are

these flanking movements

it
is
too
So Marshal Davout said no more, and,
;

fortunately for the Russian army,

left

without gaining his

point.

Kutuzof was not slow

When

to divine the

enemy's intentions.

the battle began, in the face of the enemy's

moved Boggavut's corps across from the

which Prince Eugene was making an
stration, to the

b)- a

flank with Uvarof's cavalry

Both

sides

ineffectual

support of the Second Army, and

turn alarmed the French

appreciated

fire

he

right flank, against

mo\-cment round

demonin his

their left

and the Cossacks.

the fact that the

heights were the real key to the position.

Semyonof

We must not omit to mention that throughout the night

preceding the battle Napoleon was apprehensive lest the

NAPOLEOX

90
Russian

arm)- should

ai^ain

The

retreat.

him

prevented

RUSSIA

IX

from

fear

sleeping

of

he

this

kept

what the
time was, and wliethcr any sound could
be heard from the Russian camp, and
calling to his attendants, asking

sending to sec whether the

in

still

the

same

enemy was

When

place.

he was

reassured on this score, he began to express

anxiet}'

hausted troops

for

shock of battle?

Marshal

in

his

hungr}'

how would
He

the)'

and

ex-

bear the

sent for Bessieres,the

whom, apparenth', he had the

greatest confidence, and inquired whether

the Guards had evcr)'thing the)' needed.

once, in

At

fact,

made

He more

than

inquiries on this j^oint.

last, still unsatisfied,

he rose and asked the sentinels

outside his tent whether they had had their rations served

out to them.

Receiving an affirmative answer, he lay down

again and

into a troubled sleep.

fell

But he soon called out again. The aide-de-camp who

entered found him with his head resting on his hand.
He
appeared to be musing on the vanity of human glor)'.
Napoleon reviewed the critical situation in which he was
"The eventful da)' draws near. It will
placed, and added
be a terrible struggle " Then he asked Rapp if he was

confident of victory.

"

Certainly," the latter rei)lied, " but

we shall not get it without much bloodshed."

Once more Napoleon became restless and

uneas)-.

Again he sent to inquire whether the Russians were in

the same position, or whether they had slipped away.
Receiving a reassuring report, he endeavoured to calm
his agitation
but the exhausting journe)'s he had lately
performed and his slee[)less nights, together with his man);

NAPOLEON
cares

and

anxieties,

temperature

fell

had so

91

upon him that as the

told

during the night he grew feverish, and

was seized with a dry cough and nervous irritation.

During the latter part of the night he suffered from intense
thirst.
And to add to all this he was troubled by his old
complaint, for on the previous day he had had an attack
of dysuria, a disease from which he had long suffered.

An officer came from Ney

were in front, and requesting
Napoleon brightened up, rose
leave to begin the attack.
from his bed, summoned his attendants, and issued from
" The)' are in our hands at last
his tent with the words
Five o'clock struck at

last.

to report that the Russians

Forward

The

gates of

Moscow

are before us

"
!

Such

Segur's account.

is

The

battle of Borodino,

famous

in

the annals of war,

had begun. The roar of the guns, borne upon the wind,
was heard eighty miles away from the battle-field. The
Emperor was seen throughout the whole day sitting or
slowly walking up and down near the landslip on the left
front of the captured Shevardino redoubt

but he could

scarcely view the battle from that place after

for

some time

in jDrogress.

He

rose

now and

a few paces and seated himself once more.

attended

him regarded

it

had been
walked

again,

Those who

him with astonishment.

They

were accustomed under such circumstances to see him

managing affairs with a confident and tranquil air but
instead of this they now saw nothing but feebleness,
Some ascribed his want of energy
lethargy, and inertia.
;

others thought that he was tired of everything,

even of fighting, while some suspected internal sufferings.
The last supposition was probably the correct one.
to fatigue

Napoleon's

attendant,

Constant,

positively

asserts

that

during the whole of the battle of Borodino he was suffering

NArOLKOX

92

his chronic

from an attack of

moreover, some time

had neglected, and

1\

RUSSIA
He

malady.

it

was rendered

Fluse, "during the whole of the battle.

It

was

officers,

said

pacing up and

that

his

fact, dirl

it

affect

dc la
walked about

horse," sa\'s

He

down upon

indisposition

worse by the

still

So seriousl}', in
anxieties of the day.
him that he almost lost his voice.
"Napoleon never once mounted his
wath his

had contracted,

previously a severe cold which he

the

prevented

same spot.
him from

riding.
"

His aide-de-camp was kept bus)-

li\-ering his orders.

a few corps in reserve.

succession of militar)first

receiving and de-

airs,

Revolution, such as

Guards and

regimental band was pla)M'ng a

recalling the battle-fields of the
'A//o//s, cufants

But at Borodino these strains had no

and some of the older officers laughed

two

in

J^ehind Xa[:)oleon were the

effect

de la patric!'

on the

soldiers,

at the contrast of the

The panorama of a blood}- battle was spread

our e}'es, but we could see nothing, owing to the

periods.

before

smoke of

a thousand guns thundering without a pause.

got as close as

could to the Emperor,

who kept looking

He was dressed in
and spoke but little. When a cannonball rolled towards his feet, as sometimes happened, he
stepped on one side just like the rest of us."
By three o'clock in the afternoon the French had captured the redoubt on the Semyonof heights, but the
Russian army, far from taking to flight, had no intention even
Napoleon, aghast at the unprecedented losses
of retiring.
of men, officers, and generals, put a stop to any further
through

liis

glass at the field of battle.

his grey overcoat,

attack, and, in spite of

all

representations, refused to allow

the reser\'es to be used for a final decisive assault.

The marshals

sent General I^elliard for assistance.

The

^*

NAPOLEON

93

general declared that from the position they occupied they

could see the whole of the Mozjaisk road, covered with men
and wagons in full retreat, that nothing was needed but
one vigorous onset to finally crush the Russian army. The
Emperor wavered and hesitated then he bade the general
return and report again.
Belliard rode off in some surprise, and soon returned
with the news that the enemy was apparently rallying, that
the opportunity for the decisive blow was passing, and that
if they did not strike at once a second battle would be
needed to decide the first. Bessieres, however, returned at
this moment from the hills to which he had been sent by
Napoleon to inspect the Russian position. He insisted
that the Russians, far from retreating in disorder, had only
retired to their second position, and were actually prepar;

ing to attack.

Then

the

Emperor informed

Belliard that

it

was not yet clear what had happened that before making
up his mind to allow his last reserves to be brought into
;

action he wished to be

more

certain regarding the position

He

of the pieces on his chess-board.

repeated this phrase

several times.

Belliard returned completely dumfoundered to Murat

and the other Marshals, who were impatiently awaiting reinforcements, and informed them that they were not forthcoming. " He had found the Emperor still at the same
spot, evidently in pain, and in a state of despondency
his
features were downcast, his eyes dull and heavy, and he
gave his orders in a listless wa\'.
" Every one was surprised.
Ney, in an access of un;

governable temper, said bluntly,

this

the

'

What

Have we come out here for the

plain ? What is the Emperor doing
?

is

the meaning of

pleasure of taking
in

the rear

he can only see the reverses and not the successes.

There
If he

NAPOLEON

94

RUSSIA

IN

does not mean to lead the arm}' himself, if he has ceased to

be a general and is playin*;" at Kmperor, let him return to the
"
Tuileries, and leave the command in our hands
Daru, in his turn, was insti^^atcd by Dumas and Berthier
!

'

to whisper to the
"

Now

is

lunperor that the universal cry was,

"

the time for the Guards to attack

leon answered,

"And

if

have to

to-morrow, what troops shall

fight

have to

But Napo-

fight

second battle
it

with?"

Napoleon's sufferings were evidently increasing;

as

much

as he could

foot pace to the

do

to

Semyonof

from being master of the

mount
hills.

field

and

his horse

He saw

was

was far
was still

that he

of battle; that

disputed by the cannon-balls, and even the

it

ride at a

it

rifle-bullets,

of

the enemy.

Murat declared that he saw none of the genius of Napoleon displayed on this momentous day, and Prince P3ugene,
the Viceroy, admitted that he could not understand his

adopted

father's indecision.

for his

opinion

When Ney was

appealed to

he was so angry that he recommended

retreat.

The whole

army was disappointed with the

and with the want of energy displayed
by Napoleon. Bessieres was especiall}' blamed for, at the
critical moment, when the P'mperor was on the point of
making u|) his mind to let the reserves be brought into
action, the Marshal a[jproached him and whispered in his
ear
" Sire, do not forget that you are e ight hundred leagues
from your capital."
TKere are, however, some who take the opposite view.
Chambrey, for instance, assures us that " the whole of the
of the P^rench

result of the battle,

French army was astonished at the stubbornness with

which this terrible battle was fought," and Gourgot, in defending Napoleon, goes so far as to sa}-, " If the ranks of the

?.

NAPOLEON
Guards had been thinned

95

at the battle of Borodino, the

it was the
pillar
would hardly have managed

remains of the French army, of which

and pride during the

to reach the Niemen,"

Of the Russian

retreat,

authorities,

some

find fault with

Napoleon,

and others are of opinion that he adopted the only possible

course.

"

Nothing," says Buturlin,

course in stopping^the

figR't

"

can justify Napoleon's

when a little
victory.
The last

at three o'clock

might have ensured a

had already gone into action, while
on the side of the French neither the Old Guard nor
the Young, nor any of their cavalry, amounting to over
20,000 men, had taken any part in the battle. There is
no doubt that if Napoleon had made use of the twentythree battalions and twenty-seven squadrons of which this
select force consisted, he would have utterly routed the
Russians, and compelled them to spend the remaining four
hours of the day in continual retreat instead of preparing
further effort

Russian

reserves

for attack."

Danilevsky asserts that the French, after occupying the

hills, so far from pressing the
Russians, who had fallen back on another position in the
immediate neighbourhood, withdrew all along the line for

redoubt on the Semyonof

the night

and reminds

his readers of the fact, that until

made no
attempt to renew the assault, but awaited an attack on the
part of the Russians, and only advanced at last when their
opponents began to retire.^ He expresses an opinion that
eleven o'clock on the following day the French

for

Napoleon's refusal to use the

Young Guard

port the cavalry in breaking through our

army was indebted

to the

left

movement made on

^
To be more accurate, it appears
begun to retire in the night.

that the Russians

to sup-

flank,

the

left

our

by

had already

XAPOLKOX

96

Uvarof's cavalr)',

Kutuzof

that
We

himself.

the Cossacks did

Mad

them.

is

RUSSIA

I\

movement ordered by

to say, to a

ma\- add

that neither

U\arof nor

that miijht have been expected from

all

more boldly

the latter attacked the French

in

the rear, plundered their bagf^age, and generally caused con-

they had every opportunity of

fusion in that quarter, as

doing, Napoleon would in

had to send
and the result
would probably have been to demoralize, and perhaps to
spread panic throughout the whole of the French army.
Many incline to Marshal Davout's opinion, which we
have already mentioned, that Napoleon could have made
likelihood have

all

his reserves not to the front but to the rear

much more
Russian

certain of victory

if,

instead of attacking the

he had made a strong demonstration there,

left,

and sent a large

force on to the old

port Poniatowski against Tutshkof

have been enabled to

fall

which, being thus cut

between the
in a

very

It

rivers

Smolensk road to supHe would certainly

on the rear of the Russian army,

from ^Nlozjaisk and cornered

off

Kolotsha and Moskva, would ha\c been

critical position.

was

at

on

battle

first

the

Kutuzof's

Prince

following

da)'

commanders of

the disordered

condition

the

intention

to

accept

position which

But the reports sent

Russian arm\- then occupied.

night by the

in

the various

of the

army corps

different

I'^irst

his

Army

j^lans.

divisions,

Grabbe was sent that night

with orders to

retire.

Deep

When

silence,

at

as to

as to the scantiness of ammunition, caused

above all
to change

the

in

and
him

to the

he says,

he had found the

was cjuartcred, he
obtained a candle with much difficult)- and entered the
parlour where the general was asleep on the floor, side by
He gently
side with his aides-de-camps and orderlies.
reigned at the village of Gorki.

cottage

in

which

l?arcla\--de-Tolly

xapolp:on

97

awakened him, gave him the note which he had brought

with him, and explained his mission. The general leaped
to his feet, and, probably for the first time in his

burst from his

lips,

of bitter invective against Benigsen,

or

other,

decision

he

took

life,

there

generally so mild and gentle, a torrent

to

whom,

be the principal

for

some reason

author of

the

to retreat.

The Russian arm)- began once more to retreat, and the

French to advance. The French had therefore nominally
won

the battle.

"

Monsieur L'Eveque," writes Napoleon to the Bishop of

Aletz, " the passage of the Niemen, of the Dvina and the
Dnieper, and the battles of Mohilef, Drissa, Polotsk,
Smolensk, and lastl}^ of Moskva [Borodino], call for thanksgiving to the God of Might.
We desire that on receipt of
this letter you will
make the necessary arrangements.
Summon my people to the churches and sing praises unto
the Almighty according to the forms laid down by the
Church for such occasions.
" In sending \'ou this letter, I pray the Lord that, etc.
"

Give 71

tember,

ill

our Imperial Quarters in Mosj'aisk, loth Sep-

Napoleon."

812.

In accordance with these instructions, the Bishop of

issued the following proclamation

Metz

" Claudius
Ignatius Laurent, b\' the Grace of God,
Bishop of Metz, General Administrator of the District, and
Baron of the Empire, to the clergy and to all true sons of
the District of Metz, greeting.

"Beloved Brethren,
'^The whole universe now gazes in profound wonder
upon new exploits and new triumphs yet more glorious

than those that have hitherto filled us with astonishment.

Napoleon has once more shown himself a veritable Titan,

X.\1'()IJ':().\

98

I.\

lU'SSlA

capable of the most i^iLjanlic achicvcmcMits.

His victorious
plialanxcs have swept like eagles from the mouth of the
Guadalquivir to the sources of the Volga. No longer shall
the Northern barbarians tram[)le on the blessed valleys of
the South
the glorious warrior of the West is driving the
common foe before him to the ice-bound regions of the
;

Pole.

For more than a centur)- have the presum[)tu(nis

dwellers of the hyperborean shores, relying on a reputation
they have ill deserved, menaced and intimidated the
humble and confiding monarchs of civilized Europe. Long
time, too long indeed, have they lent the hireling aid of
their would-be invincible legions, to nations whom it was
their aim thereafter to subdue, and whom the\' have set in
arms one against another, only to break faith with their
kings and lead them astray into difficulties from which there
was no escape. He whom the Creator, the God of War,
hath chosen to root out all manner of craft)' cunning, to
break the spells of witchcraft, to humble the proud, to cast
clown earthl)- idols, to triumph over the kings of the nations
and subdue their chief cities, he has seen, beloved brethren,
that the time has come to humble their intolerable pride
and arrogance, and to shcnv to all men that these savage
warriors are no more invincible in their native stej^pes than
in the \alle\'s of Helvetia, or the plains of Poland and
"

Moldavia.
" What the mind hath conceived, that the hand hath
performed. Though few be the months that have passed,
the rapidity of our successes and the splendour of our
victories fill the whole world with astonishment.
" The immortal instrument by whom these wonders have
been worked, he himself marvels, it would seem, at his own

He humbly acknowledges that it is the right

hand of God, and not his own, that triumphs over the cneniy
who has summoned him to the fight.
successes.

"On

the field of battle, in the midst of his victories, he

the first to raise the hymn of thanksgiving, and, from the
ends of the earth, where he is now contending with the foe,
he calls upon the pastors of his realm to summon the
is

NAPOLEON

99

people to the churches, and join him in singing praises

unto the Lord, in gratitude for His victories. Who is so
proud that he will not bow down before the Most High
the victor, who casteth down the thrones of kings,
falls at the throne of the Lord who giveth as He
will, victory or defeat, life or death, peace or w^ar ?
" Never, my brethren, has Napoleon the Great missed
any occasion of proclaiming these eternal truths whenever
he has achieved one of his wondrous victories.
The
joyful epistle which his Imperial and Royal Majesty has
graciously vouchsafed to us is a convincing testimony of
the depth of his religious faith.
"Let us give thanks to the Fountain of these great
mercies even as our most gracious Emperor lays his
triumphs at the feet of the Almighty, the Lord of heaven

when

himself

and

earth.

And

to this end that the praiseworthy intentions of

our most august Emperor and King may be worthily
fulfilled, we, having duly considered the matter, do hereby
"
order and command
"

It is admitted on all hands that the French losses at

Borodino were quite as great as the Russian, namely, about
Segur puts them at 40,000.
50,000.
Dumas says that

were beyond calculation."

At about nine
Napoleon summoned Daru and
Dumas. His camp was in the middle of a square formed
by the Guards. " He had only just supped," says Dumas,
" and was sitting all alone.
He made one of us sit on his
right, and the other on his left.
After questioning us as
to the arrangements made for giving assistance to the
wounded, he began to talk of the result of the battle.
Then, after dozing in his chair for about five minutes, he
gave himself a shake, and began talking again.
People
"

the

losses

o'clock

in

the evening

'

are surprised,

dare

say,'

he

said,

'

that

reserves be used in order to secure a

more

did not

let

my

decisive result

XAPOLl-:OX

loo
l)Ul \-ou

see

was obliged

which we must

tleal

them for the final blow

we can enter Moscow. The

to save

before

success of the clay was certain

of the campaign

that

is

RTSSIA

IX

why

had to think of the issue

kept the Guards out of

action.'

Napoleon attempted the same night to resume his routine

work which had been interru|)ted fcjr five da)'s. liut his
voice failed him, and lie could neither converse nor dictate,
lie was obliged to ha\'e recourse to the assistance of the
pen, writing his orders on scraps of paper.

and

all

members of his staff

copied them out as fast

the

His secretaries

wIkj could be

of any

Count
work with the
others
but the Emperor's handwriting was extremely
difficult to deci]jher, for he was writing at the rate of an
order a minute.
le would frequently rap on the table as a
sign to remove the papers which were accumulating in great
assistance

Daru and the Prince of Neufchatel

as the\' could.
set to

piles.

Twelve long hours were spent in this work. Not a sound

was to be heard but the scratching of Napoleon's pen and
the rapping (jf his hammer.

The French army at last approached Moscow. Napowho had been previously seated in a carriage, mounted
his horse when half-way through the last march.
leon,

In the distance, through a cloud of dust, could be seen

the long columns of Russian cavalry retiring in good order

before the h^'ench troops.

came
a

into view, with g(jlden

\-ast city

At last a number of towers

domes glittering in the sun

lay before the advancing host, and the van of the

"Moscow! MosThe cry was taken up by the whole army

and men clambered on to the heiirhts in order to

arm\-, in a transport of enthusiasm, cried,

cow

at last

officers

"

NAPOLEON

loi

gaze at the famous cit}', destined perhaps to be the new

boundary of the French Empire.
Napoleon feasted his eyes upon the spectacle from the
Pilgrim's Hill^Poklonnaya Gora. Behind him was a group
of delighted marshals.

and right they could see Prince Eugene and

In front, on the highthe city.
approaching
Poniatowski
reached the suburbs
almost
road, Murat and his scouts had

To

the

left

no deputation of the inhabitants came out to meet

It was afternoon, but Moscow gave no sign of
them.
Those officers who had
it was like a city of the dead.
life
alread}' been in the cit)' reported that Moscow was deserted
But for a long time no one dared to communicate these
tidings to Napoleon all feared an outburst of the Emperor's
When Napoleon was at last informed of the condifury.

but

still

Then

tion of the city he flatly refused to believe the report.

Dorogomilof

gate.
he mounted his horse and rode up
He gave orders that the strictest discipline should be
observed, clinging to the hope that the rumour would prove

to the

to

to

Perhaps these people did not know the

The whole situation was new

be untrue.

proper

mode

them

of surrendering.

ways must be as strange to

ways were to the French.
doubt
report confirmed the alarming news

the French and their

the Russians as they and their

But every fresh

was no longer possible.
Napoleon summoned

The

thing

is

Daru

preposterous

"

Moscow

is

deserted

Ride into the place and

find

the boyards."

Daru, however, was unsuccessful in his mission, for there

was not a boyard in the city. There was no smoke from
not a sign of habitation unbroken silence
the chimneys

brooded over the vast city.

But Napoleon insisted he
;

still

waited and hoped.

At

NAPOLEON

I02

one of

last

cost,

rode

tlic officers,

in,

IN

RUSSIA

evident]}' willinL;" to oblii^'c at

seized a few vat^rants in the streets

them out before him

and

any

dro\-e

as a deputation.

Rostopchin says that the deputation consisted of some

twelve
rities,

men

chid in

tlie

worst of garments

the civic autlio-

nobihty, clergy, and principal merchants were repre-

sented on

this

solemn occasion

b}'

a simple tj-pe-setter.

saw the humorous side of the situation, and

Convinced at last that Moscow was really
deserted, he abandoned his hopes and projects, shrugged his
shoulders, and said with a contemptuous air
"The Russians
Napoleon

turned awa)-.

flo

not understand the impression that will be produced

b)-

the occupati(jn of their capital."

One

can well understand Naj)oleon's impatience to receive

would have meant the realiza.An hour before reaching

tion of a long-cherished ambition.
Moscow he summoned Count Durosnel, who was in charge
of the Imperial head-quarters, and said
" Go into the cit}-,
get everything in order, and select a deputation to bring me
the ke}'s."
There is no doubt that he had thought out all
the ke)'s of the

cit}'

for this

the

details of his

entr)'

into

Moscow

his

speech to the

which he would have availed himself of the

jealousy between the old capital and St. Petersburg, and the
shortcomings of the constitutit)n of the empire, to win these
nobilit}-,

in

bra\-e but

barbarous people over to his side

his

arrange-

and the issue of

the false lOO rouble notes which he had had printed expressly in Paris, and with which he hoped to make good
He had, of course, already decided
the expenses of the war.
whom he would punish, or reward, to whom he would
extend his Imperial clemency; what changes he would
make in the aflministration and, last but not least, how he
would conduct the negotiations for [jcace whether slowly
ments

for a contribution to

be paid

in gold,

NAPOLEON

103

or quickl}-, haughtily and sternl)', or graciously.

He who

had so long been accustomed to apply

his genius to every

detail of the subjugation, pacification,

and organization of

newly-conquered countries, must of course, now that he had

reached the goal of his ambition, consider and decide ever}'And, after all, how aggravating to find
thing beforehand.

was nothing, positively nothing, with which to

satisfy the curiosity of the Monitcnr and of Europe,
which had been expecting this climax open-mouthed.
that there

Frenchman, who was an eye-witness of the scene, tells

came upon the Emperor in one of the suburbs,
awaiting envoys from the Russians, and examining their
cavalry, which was retiring on the left, through a field-glass.
A few peasants and shopkeepers were marched up. They
presented a pitiable spectacle, and were quaking with terror,
under the impression, apparcntl}', that their last hour had
us that he

come.

He was cvidenth- cold he

Napoleon dismounted.
coughed as he gave his orders, and he seemed to be undecided as to what course to adopt. Apparcntl}' considering
that it would be wisest not to run the risk of entering the
city at that moment, he stationed himself in one of the
;

neighbouring wooden houses.

This was in the suburb of Dorogomilof Marshal Mortier
was appointed Military Governor of the town. Napoleon
" See to it that there is no plundering
said emphatically
You will be answerable with }'our own head save me m}^
Moscow from everybody and everything
At the Dorogomilof Bridge, Riess, the bookseller, was
brought to Napoleon. Riess afterwards related that he had
been compelled to remain at his shop, but hearing the drums
and trumpets in the street he went out, was taken prisoner
and brought before the Emperor.

NAPOLKOX

I04
"

W'lio are

"

A I-'rench
Ah then

"

" \'es
"
"

but

Where
I

is

RUSSIA

IX

you ?" asked Napoleon.

bookseller."
)-ou are
I

one of m)- subjects."

have lived

Rostopchin

for a

long time

in

Moscow."

"
?

has gone."

le

Where are the magistrates municipal

" Gone also."
" Who is left in Moscow ? "
" None of the Russians."
"

?"

council

"

"

Oest impossible !
Riess apparently swore that what he said was true.
Napoleon frowned and remained for some time buried in
thought then, as if he had made up his mind to some
;

"

Forward march
One of the Russians
" They went searching for
the keys and for a deputation in the Government offices,
daring project, he gave the word,
says

"

the town-hall, the head-quarters of the police, the GovernorGeneral's house, and, in

was the

least

fact, ever)'

chance of finding an

place in which there

official.

After a long

but ineffectual search, the zealous Polish general

who had

undertaken the task returned to Napoleon and reported

was not a single functionary left in Moscow, and

town was deserted by all except a few foreigners

that there
that the

who had

stayed behind.

The Emperor accordingly

post-

by next day
poned his entry
some of the inhabitants would have returned, and that a
deputation would arrive after all, or that at any rate his
I-'rench, Italian, and German subjects would come to the
rescue and present themseh'es to pa}' him their respects."
He was again disappointed. He spent the night before
;

he thought perhaps that

the gates in an innkeeper's

sleep.

"There was such a

house, apparently unable to

horrible smell in the house,"

NAPOLEON
says his valet,
'

Are
"

'

"

'

that his Majesty kept calling every minute,

?

am, }'our Majesty.'

Pra}'

burn some vinegar,

awful smell
"

"

awake, Constant

}'Ou

105

it is

w^^;/ clier

The house was

in

such a

filth)*

next day specimens of

found

which are so

plentiful

in

nay, in his clothes as well."

which, as

me

simply torture to

those

cannot stand this

'
!

condition that they

disgusting

insects

Russia, in the Emperor's bed,

The

writer refers to our bugs,

well known, attack new-comers with peculiar

is

virulence.
It

was said that Napoleon,

"

although he intended to

establish himself in the Palace of the Kremlin, considered

little before entering into possession, owing
rumour that the ancient dwelling of the Tsars was
mined with explosives."
The two armies moved simultaneousl}^ upon Moscow.
The King of Naples and Marshal Ne\' crossed the bridge.
The men and officers of the Russian rear-guard and of the
French advance-guard met on the bridge, and the King
found himself completel)' surrounded by Russians of
General Miloradovitch's detachment. According to Segur,
Murat called out, " Is there an}- one here who can speak
"
French ?
" There is, your Majesty," answered a young officer not
it

best to wait a

to a

far off.
"

Who

is in

command

of the rear-guard

"

man

pointed to a veteran in Cossack uniform

as

he had seen

if

service.

"

Please ask him

"

He

sa}-s that

always seen

The King

The )'oung
who looked

if

he knows

me ?

he knows )-our

"

]\Iajest}' well.

He

has

\-ou in the thick of the fight."

hinted in the course of conversation that

it

was

NAPOT.KOX

io6

time

make peace tliat

to

IX

RUSSIA

the war had alrcad}- lasted too

remarked incidentall\- that the fur coat

loI\L,^
He
which the worth)- veteran was wcarint^ must be most useful
The Cossack general at once pulled it
in camping out.
off and offered it to Murat as a memento of the interview.
l\!urat in return gave him a valuable watch which he -took
from one of the officers of his staff. This unfortunate
also

officer

was Napoleon's aide-de-camp, Gourgot, who

wards

bitterly

valued for

The

its

lamented the

his watch,

after-

which he

associations.

narrative of Kerbeletzk}-, a Russian

was captured on the way

Napoleon,

is

"The Due

d'Istry,

and

loss of

to

cliiiioviiik,

Moscow and brought

who

before

and simplicity
Napoleon's State Secretary de Laurent,

interesting

in

his Polish aide-de-cam]:)

its

tiai'vctc

Lieutenant-Colonel Welsowicz,

me

on the morning of September i, in great

detail, not only as to the number and disposition of all our
armies, and the movements and performances of each of
them, but also as to the intentions entertained by our

cjuestioned

Government with regard

"

All the officials

to their

own

whom

to peace.
I

have named above, according

account, which they said was based on the

most trustworthy information received by Napoleon, were

thoroughly acquainted with the condition of Moscow.
They knew that there were no Russian troops in the town,
and supposed not only that the Russian army would not
give battle before the gates of the cit}-, but more than that,
that the Russian Go\ernment would certainl}' sue for
VVelsowic/. further affirmed that on the morrow,
peace.
namely on September 2, Naj^oleon, their ICmperor, would
dine in Moscow that whate\cr resistance might be offered
b)' the Russian army which had taken part in the battle
of Mo/.jaisk, he would take the city by force if need be;
;

NAPOLEON

107

would raise a good round sum b}' way of contribution

would restore Poland to her former dignity, and would join
White Russia and Smolensk to her territories. He would
further provide his troops with clothes and boots, and after
spending a while in this capital of Russia would return to
If the Russian Government remained obdurate and
Paris.
;

refused his terms, he would

make

over

Moscow

to Poland,

while he himself marched to St. Petersburg and beyond,

and subdued the whole of Russia.

" On the 1st, at ten o'clock in the morning, he proceeded
towards Moscow with his huge arm)', \\hich had passed
the night camped round the country-house he had occupied.
In the evening he halted at Viazum, a village some twenty-

two miles from Moscow, belonging to Prince Galitzj-n, and

spent the night in the manor-house. That day Napoleon
drove the

first

eight miles in his carriage, with the Prince

Then, as he could no longer use

the carriage, for the bridge on the high-road was burned,
and the road that led round b}' the ravine was impassable,
he mounted a horse and rode the rest of the wa}^ On
September 2 Napoleon left Viaz.um at daybreak, and

of Neufchatel (Berthier).

morning he reached a manor-house

of the high-road to Smolensk, eight
right
the
on
which
he was met by the King of
There
miles from Moscow.
He did not enter the house with him, but turned
Naples.
to the left into a close near the church, and there they
at ten o'clock in the
lies

walked alone for more than an hour, discussing the steps

that must be taken for the capture of Moscow.
" Murat then, without taking his dinner, proceeded towards Moscow, and the whole of the French army with its
numerous artillery followed him without a halt. Napoleon
made a hasty dinner in the house, and with his attendant
and a special
generals who took their dinner outside

NAPOLl-:0\

io8
bo(ly-L;uar(l,

aiKJthcr

of

of a

conslstiiii^

RUSSIA

IN

s(|iia(li"()n

of Chasseurs

Uhhins, under the

Polish

L;uidance

of

and
the

Russian prisoners, set off post-haste after Murat.

"

Xapoleon arrived

Pili^rini's Hill

two o'clock

at

from Moscow.

le

which was
generals

of the

The Emperor,
Ljiven

to him,

hill

holdini;"

some two miles

b}'

order of the Kin;^

in

his

hand

[)lan

dismounted, and some of the

who accomjxanied him

was preparing
"

the afternoon at the

found the \'ant^uard already drawn up

in battle arra}' at the foot

of Naples.

in

I'oklonnaj'a Gora distant

did the same.

The army

for battle.

After waiting half-an-liour without an\' challenge from

Moscow, Napoleon gave orders to fire a gun as a signal

then, when five more minutes had elapsed, he and his staff
mounted their horses and gallo[)cd at full speed towards
At the same moment the vanguard and the
the city.
division which was posted in the rear of the centre advanced
with indescribable impetuosit)- the cavalry and artillery
galloped at full speed, keeping step together, and the
;

The
infantry charged along as fast as they could double.
thud of horses' hoofs, the creaking of wheels, and the
rattling of guns, added to the noise of running men, made
a remarkable uproar.

The

daylight was

dense cloud of dust which they raised

dimmed by

the

Within twelve

minutes they had reached the Dorogomilof gate.

" The unexpected news that Moscow was deserted both
by the Russian arm>' and by the inhabitants seemed
He was seized with the proto astound Napoleon.
foundest amazement, which for the moment wrought in

him a kind of ecstasy or self-forgetfulness. His

and measured step at once became quick and
He looked all round and about him, recovered
stopped

in his

walk, shivered,

fell

tranquil
feverish.

himself,

into a stupor, scratched

Looking Towards Moscow.

XAPOLKOX
his nose, pulled off his glove,

109

and pulled

it

on again drew
it between
;

out his handkerchief from his pocket, crumpled

his

hands and put

then took

in

it

another pocket as though by mistake,

out again and put

it

it

back

then he pulled

once more and pulled it on again, repeating

this action many times.
He continued thus for a whole
hour, and during that time the generals surrounding him
stood motionless, like lifeless images of men, not one of

off his glove

them daring to stir. Then Napoleon recovered himself a

little, mounted his horse and rode into Moscow, followed
b\- the ca\alry, which had hitherto stood without the gates.
When he had passed through Dorogomilof Post-boy Ward
and come to the edge of the river IMoskva, he stopped on
the right side of the street on the slope of the bank, dis-

mounted, and began once more to pace up and down

but this time he was more tranquil.
" Napoleon and his escort lay that night in the Dorogo;

in private dwellings.
Of the inhabitants
Moscow none were to be seen except four stable-boys."
The night which Napoleon passed in the suburb was

milof suburb

sad and dreary one.

To

say nothing of the bugs

perhaps also other parasites by no means rare

he was kept a\\-ake

b\'

gloomy

the

in

of

and

Russia

reports that were con-

warning him, among other things, that

" The Emperor was unthe city was about to be burnt.
easy and could not lie still he kept calling his attendants
and making them repeat the rumours. Apparently he
could not quite bring himself to believe them, but about

tinually brought

in,

two o'clock
had begun.
"

He

in the

entered

morning he received word that the

Moscow on Tuesday, September

The Arbat Ward was

past ten in the morning.

empty.

He mounted

his little

3,

fires

at half-

absolutely

Arab, dressed in his grey

no

XAI^OLICOX

RL'SSIA

I\

overcoat and an ordinary cocked hat, witliout an}'

He was

distinction.

marshals and

surrounded by a very

The

cither officials.

made

the orders wJiich they wore,

and

ribbons of

a most brilliant picture,

a certain distinction to the simplicity of Napoleon's

y,"ave

attire.

of

various colours and the

many -tinted

richness of their uniforms, and the

sIl;!!

suite of

lary,e

The conqueror

Moscow rode

of

as

far

as

the

l^orovitzky ijate without seeini^ a sinc;ie inhabitant.

He was
what
conceal
was passing in

wrath was

visible in every line of his face.

indeed, at

any pains

to

His
not,
his

mind."
It

was

new

at this time that

Arbat Ward, and

fires

broke out

in

many

Napoleon had entered

the Palace of the Kremlin, the Bazaar and the so-called
parts of the

after

Carriage Mart, together with a number of dwelling-houses

round the Kremlin, burst into flames.

Najjoleon hurried

and

to the scene, issuing orders inters|)ersed with curses

threats against the trooi)s and Marshal Mortier.

"

The

sight of the Kremlin, however," says Segur,

"

the

majestic dwelling of the line of Rurik and the Romanofs,

the throne

still

standing

accustomed

in its

place, the Cross

of Ivan the Great, and the beautiful part of the city com-

manded by

the Palace, restored, in some degree, his peace

His hopes revived the conquest was at least
flattering to his pride, and he said with some complacency,
of mind.

"Me

Here am

Moscow, in the
He
ancient palace of the l\sars in the Kremlin itself!"
examined ever)'thing with mingled pride, curiosity, and
voila, ci/Jhi

at last in

])leasure

and began

made

incjuirics as to the resources

to consider the possibility of

The enthusiasm

of the town,

making

peace."

news that
Napoleon had entered Moscow w'as indescribable. The
only anxiety was lest he should rest satisfied with his
in

Paris on

receipt of the

NAPOLEON

III

and not march triumphantly into India! Innumerable sonnets, epistles, odes, and eulogistic rhymes of all
kinds were published in honour of the occasion.
Here are a few specimens in the original, for they would
suffer by translation
we have merely left out a few
descriptive passages of a purely imaginary character
laurels

OUE A SA MAJESTE L'EMPEREUR ET ROI, SUR LA

PRISE DE MOSCOU, PAR M. QUAYNAT.
"

Elevens nos chants d'allegresse

Vantons nos triomphes heineux
Jadis I'ltalie et la Grece
Eurent des soutiens valeureux
Jusqu'a nos jours, Athene et Rome
Doutaient de voir paraitre un homme
Qui put egaler leurs succes.
Maintenant, elles sont moins fieres,
En trouvant les preuves contraires
I

Dans
Ton

le

monarque des Frangais.

vainqueur, temoin de ces crimes,

INIoscou, deplore tes malheurs,

Et par des secours magnanimes

S'efiforce d'essuyer tes pleurs

Mais

tes

maux

sont trop innombrables,

Sur ces pertes irreparables,

Moscou, tu gemiras longtemps.
Pleure, vingt siecles sans orages
N'efifaceraient pas les ravages

Des brandons de monstres sanglans."

Another
in

'

lyric poet,

Poem on

the

Paul Chanin, anathematizes Russia

Campaign

o-f

Russia by the United

Armies of France and Germany.'

"

Une

nation factieuse

S'oppose au bien cjue nous voulons

Son influence desastreuse

Corrompt

Pair

que nous respirons.

NAPOLICOX

112

Une
C'cst

de nous
du Scythe,

lie

KTSSIA

IN

sc SL'|)aic
c'cst dii

Tartarc

Qu'ellc ose appeler Ic secours

Le crime de ce pactc impic,

Aux

yeitx

dc I'Eiiropc

La tk'sbonorc pour

And now M.
a

poem

A.

entitled
"

J.

trahie,

loujoiirs."

B. liarjaud rises to the epic strain, in

Conquest of Moscow.'

'

Le Riissc esperc, en vain, jiar un execs d'audace,

Se soListraire au peril dont ton bras le menace
Sa bouche osc indiquer le prix du dcshonneur
A ce perfide appel, la voix de la Patric
Repond qu'il soit marque du sceau de Tinfamie,
Le font du suborneur
;

Tremblanl a ton aspect, contrc I'airain (\u\ j;ronde

II se fait un rempart de la flamme et de Tonde,

De

ses propres foyers

Mais

loin

dc retarder

il

ta

est le destructeur

marche triomphalc,

sombre clartc de sa torche

Oui guide son \ainc|ueur."

C'est la

fatale

Next comes an 'Ode

his

to His Majesty the Emperor on

Entry into Moscow,' by A. de hi Garanciere.
"

Kn

vain tcs cnnemis se flattent dans Icur rage

Que leurs climats glaces dompteront

Tu dis en contemplant tes valeureux
'

ton courage
soldats

Si jamais la victoire, en caprices feconde,

Fuyait, pour m'echapper, dans un troisicme

J'y guiderais leurs

pas

And M. Ma/.aric, in his turn,

Moscow in " fiery stanzas."

monde

'"

celebrates

'The Taking of

'

"

Le

fils

aines de la Victoire

Suivcnt ce heros que la gloire

A ceint du laurier des Cesars

Par lui Ics dcstins s'accomplissent,

Et dans la tombe, au loin gemissent
Les manes cflrayes des Tzars."

NAPOLEON

113

bring these citations to a close with a verse from

I
an anonymous ode on 'The Campaign of His Imperial
and Royal Majesty in Russia and his Entry into Moscow,'
" Laches,

Ne
Ah

ou courez-vous

Quels seront vos asiles ?

\'0s propres villes ?

lancez-vous les feux que sur

!

tournez centre nous ce salpctre eclatant.

Des coups de vos ayeux, elances du Bosphore,

L'Europe fume encore
;

Et

les Parthes,

du moins, fuyaient en combattant

Let us see what the Russians mean to do now," said

"If they still refuse to enter into negotiations, we shall have to take our own course.
We are
provided with winter quarters now.
We will show the
world that our army can winter comfortably in the midst
of a hostile nation
like an ice-bound ship in Arctic seas.
In the spring we can continue the war though Alexander
will not compel me to do that
we shall come to terms
and peace will be signed."
"

the Emperor.

Apparently Napoleon had provided for almost every

One thing, however, he had not foreseen
the terrible fires that spread so rapidly in the gusty wind
that prevailed on the night of his entry into the Kremlin.
There was nothing to be seen on any side of the fortress
but flames rising high into the air, almost, as it seemed,

contingency.

into the clouds.

Numbers of the inhabitants who had remained in

Moscow, and who now fled from house to house in terror
of the fire and of marauding soldiers, were arrested and
under suspicion of incendiarism.
Napoleon spent his first night in the Kremlin

shot,

of great excitement

in

a state

abusing his soldiers, his officers, and

Marshal Mortier, stamping his feet, and demanding that

the

fires

should be stopped.

NAPOLEON

114

When

he was told

IN

tlic

tliat

RUSSIA

Kremlin was surrounded

with Hamcs, he sent Hcrlhicr on to an elevated terrace of

the Palace to sec

if

this

was

really the case, but the force

fires was so
had considerable
themselves from being carried

of the wind and the draught created by the

great that the Prince and
difficulty

in

preventing

his

officers

away.

The lunperor was

stupefied at times

by the strength

was red and streaming with

Naples, Prince Eugene, and
the Prince of Neufchatel begged him to leave the Palace,
but he could not make up his mind to retreat. " These

of his

emotions

perspiration.

his

face

The King of

he said to his servant Constant, in his indignation

" will not leave one stone upon

ruffians,"

against the incendiaries,

another
Fire

in

Moscow."

broke out at

last

within

the very walls

of the

They
the arsenal was found to be in flames.
found a Russian in the fortress. He was brought before
Napoleon, who questioned him narrowly and ordered the
Kremlin

soldiers to despatch

him with

their bayonets.

He was

the

custodian of the arsenal

" There is no such word as cannot in
one of Napoleon's favourite sayings.

my

dictionary," was
But the time had

incorporating the unwelcome ex-

a])parently arrived

for

pression, especially

when

lierthier

represented that

if

he

Kremlin and Kutuzof delivered an

would find himself cut off from his troops.
Napoleon resolved to abandon the Kremlin and remove
Petrofsky Dvoretz but the change of
to Peter's Palace
Around
quarters was by no means an easy undertaking.
the fortress swirled an eddying sea of fire closing every

did

not leave the

attack, he

At last
Moskva and

exit.

the fugitives discovered a path to the river

the iMnperor with his suite and his guards

NAPOLEON
sallied

forth across

the stream, only to find themselves

The

inferno.

in a veritable

115

wished to wrap him

in

the flames in their arms

officers

of Napoleon's suite

a cloak and carry him through

;

but he refused, and solved the

question of the means of escape by dashing boldly forward.

They had

to fight their

way through an avenue

of

fire,

scorching their faces and burning their hands, which they

put up to ward off the sparks and cinders that fell in a

shower around them. It was fortunate for the Emperor
that

some

soldiers,

who were marauding

way

recognized him and showed him a

in

the vicinity,

His
was singed, his clothes were burnt into holes, his
hands blistered, and his boots scorched.
The Prince of Eckmiihl, it is said, though still suffering
from the wound he had received at Borodino, as soon as
he heard of the danger to which Napoleon was exposed,
hurried to meet him, intending to rescue him or perish
It is said that when Napoleon and the
in the attempt.
Marshal met they fell into each other's arms.
The principal officers accompanied Napoleon to the
Dumas, the Intendant-General, gives
Petrofsky Palace.
the following account of his escape " It was night when
We issued
I left the house I was proceeding to occupy.
from Moscow under a perfect hail of fire; the wind was
so strong that it tore the red-hot iron from the roofs and
All our horses had their
hurled it down into the streets.
of escape.

hair

legs burnt.

It is

impossible to describe the confusion of

The roar of the flames can be

flight.
nothing but the noise of the waves of the

our headlong
likened

to

ocean it was indeed a storm raging over a sea of fire.

The whole length of the road to the Petrofsky Palace
was littered with odds and ends of all kinds, especially
with broken bottles thrown

away by

the soldiers.

We

NArOLKOX

ii6

bivouackctl at the

celiac

IX

RUSSIA

of the forest

in

full

\-ie\v

of this

image of the infernal regions. The whole of the huge

city was a vast sheet of flame, and the heavens themselves
seemed to be on fire. At a distance of two miles from
the conflagration I was able to read the orders which were
brought to

me

from the major-general."

After a five days' stay in the Petrofsky Palace, a period

of the most intense anxiet}', Napoleon returned to Moscow.
It

should be niLMitioned that from the time he entered the

Kremlin, and throughout his stay at the Petrofsky Palace,

he made no military arrangements of any kind. It is
evident that he was so overwhelmed

was

b\-

tlie

fire

that he

unable to determine upon any course of action.

When

Napoleon re-entered Moscow a fearful sight met

Of all the huge city there remained nothing
but heaps of ruins surmounted at intervals with stacks
A heav}' stifling atmosphere hung over the
of chimneys.
Heaps of cinders and ashes, with here
fallen Colossus.
and there the fragments of half-ruined walls or pillars,
alone marked the course of the streets.
The Emperor saw his troops scattered over all [)arts
His own progress was hindered b}- the
of the town.
his eyes.

multitude of plunderers, searching

it

entrance of
before

the

e\-er)-

cellar,

f(M'

booty or dragging

Soldiers were grouped at the

awa}- in noisy crowds.

before e\'ery large house, and

shops and churches towards which the

was making

its

wa\'.

Before the

fire

flames reached these

broken ojien b}' impatient

was impeded at every
broken
furniture
flung from windows,
turn by remnants of
and various articles thrown a\\a\' b)- the plunderers to
make room for more delicate or cost!)' booty. Napoleon
the

buildings

rode on

doors

were

The Emperor's

pillagers.

in

silence.

path

NAPOLEON

117

But disorder soon reached a climax. Even the Old

Guard joined in the pillage, and Napoleon resolved upon
stern measures, which had a certain good effect.
After
returning to Moscow, the Emperor's mood became somewhat more cheerful, and the change was reflected in his
entourage.
When, however, he looked out of the window
upon the scene of desolation that met his view on every
side, he was once more oppressed with gloomy thoughts,
and his bitterness was vented on those who had the illfortune to present themselves at such moments.
But
he no longer displayed such constant signs of impatience,
nor did he give rein to such furious outbursts of anger,

had marked

as

his previous

demeanour.

who
distance and

be said that Rostopchin

at

self,

a safe

was,

the

It

need scarcely

fortunately for himincendiaries were the

principal objects of his wrath.

Napoleon was very

satirical in chronicling the fact that

the Russians had celebrated Borodino as the

first

encounter of their forces with the invader.

victorious

He

says in

one of his despatches "The Russians have offered up a

Te Deuin in thanksgiving for the battles of Ostrovnaya
and Smolensk and of course the army entered Moscow

to the strains of
"

At

found
ran

hymns

of thanksgiving."
"

they

which he had begun

he

the ruffian Rostopchin's house," he continues,

rifles,

papers,

and a

letter

away without having time

to finish

of the wealthiest cities in the world,

it.

Moscow, one

no more.
the Russians, both
is

an incalculable misfortune for

merchants and for their nobility; the

loss

This

is

for their

must amount

Some hundred incendiaries have been taken

and shot. Thirty thousand Russian sick and wounded
were burnt alive.
The richest commercial houses of
to milliards.

Russia are ruined.

They were unable

to

take anything

NAPOLEON

ii8

awa)' witli them

fahen into

own

and w Iilmi they saw that evcr}'thing had

hands of the h'reneh, they set fire to their

tlie

ancient

empire.

capital,

their

Rostopcln'n

did wliat

RUSSIA

IX

is

we could

lioly

city,

the

author of

the

centre of the

tliis

to sub<hie the fuv, but

We

crime.

the ruffianly

Governor had taken his precautions only too well he

had carried off or destroyed all the fire-engines and
apparatus."

As an answer
surprise,

the news

to

bulletin

this

and indignation

terror,

he learned that the

produced

Moscow

of the burning of

in

Paris

by

defied description.

was easy to see that a despatcli announcing that the

were provided with shelter, food, and clothing
would have re-assured the Parisians far more than any
news of \ictories.
It

soldiers

Napoleon,

however,

bewailing

after

welcome he had received from the

army

is

doing well

cabbages, and

other

brandy, sugar, coffee,

cjuantity of furs

guard

is

road to

He

there

vegetables,

and coats

posted on the
St.

for

roatl

treacherous

declared

"

The

plenty of corn, potatoes,

is

etc., etc.

the

city,

beef,

salt

meat,

wine,

The men have secured a

the winter.
One advance-

to

Kazan, the other on the

Petersburg."

referred

carefull\'-chosen terms to

in

the

Emperor

iXlexander, who, in his opinicMi, wcjuld not have hesitated

to

make peace

if

him

he had but received any one of the

letters, by the way, of a most gloomy,

melancholy character.
Napoleon expounded his magnanimous intentions to
Yakovlef, a Russian nobleman who was captured when
about to leave Moscow, robbed by the soldiers, and brought
to the ICmperor dressed in the coat of his valet.
After
various com[)laints antl re[)roaches, Napoleon, adoi:)ting a

letters sent to

NAPOLEON
much

gentler

tone, asked

consent to deliver

it?

" If

19

write a letter, will }-ou

Will you promise that

it

shall

come

you can promise me this,

but are you certain that you have access
I will let you go
to your Emperor, and can you assure me that he will get
into Alexander's

own hands?

If

my

letter?

"

Yakovlef of course promised.

Napoleon got up at night on purpose to write the letter^" I have fought your Majesty without ill-feeling.
A word
and
would
have
I
from you before or after the last battle,
If
stopped, and abandoned my right to enter Moscow.
your Majesty yet cherishes any kind feeling towards me,
you will consider my appeal to you. Common humanity,
your Majesty's own interest and the interests of this great
city, should have induced you to trust to my hands the
capital which your troops had left."
At three o'clock in the morning he despatched the letter
to his prisoner, who passed with it through the French
delighted that his carelessness in allowing himself to

lines,

be taken prisoner had had no graver consequences.

Tutolmin, the Governor of the Foundling Hospital, also
had the honour of a conversation with Napoleon, of hearing

from his own Imperial lips of the respect and brotherly

tenderness with which he regarded the Emperor Alexander,
" I have never
and of his readiness to make peace.

adopted

min

"
;

this

my

method of warfare,"

troops can

fight,

said

Napoleon

but not burn.

to Tutol-

way
Some

All the

from Smolensk I have seen nothing

it is time for peace.
limit must be put to this bloodshed
I have no business here in Russia."
As Tutolmin's official duties prevented him from leaving
but ashes.

Moscow, Napoleon begged him in his next report to the

Empress to be sent through the outposts not to omit to

NAPOLICON

I20

IN

RUSSIA

mention Napoleon's peaceful inclinations and

his readiness

to enter into negotiations.

Napoleon was very uneasy during the

after his entry into

Moscow regarding

the

first

few days

movements of

which had been completely lost sight

of in the confusion of the fire, the looting, and all his other
troubles.
lie spoke \cry sharply to General Sebastiani,
losing his temper and abusing him roundly, for not keei)ing
an eye on Kutu/.of. Imagining that frequent communication with the Russian outposts was the cause of the
disorders that had occurred, he ordered Marshal Ik-rthier
to instruct Murat to forbid all communication with the
tlie

Russian

enemy on

arni\-,

pain of death.

" It is his

Majesty's wish," said

Berthier, "that the only communication with

the

enemy

powder and ball."

should be through the medium
Napoleon, however, was not the only person who was unof

easy at the disappearance of the Russians. The marshals

were apprehensive at one time lest Kutuzof should cut

communications.
the nth September," according to Kerbeletzky,
" Napoleon, preceded by two pages and accompanied by
his generals, Court officials, three Russian prisoners and a
their

"On

body-guard consisting of a squadron of Chasseurs and some

Polish Uhlans, left the Kremlin for the first time to gaze

upon the ruins of Moscow, and, also for the first time,
doffed his light-grey overcoat and appeared in uniform.
It might have been expected that, as his marshals and
all his generals were in uniforms, richl}^ embroidered back
and front with gold, the lunperor would be distinguished

by the peculiar
he was dressed
cloth, with

brilliance of his attire.

in

red

On

the contrary,

a plain militar)- uniform of dark-green

collar,

epaulettes, the star of the

without embroidery, but w^ith

Legion of Honour on the

left

NAPOLEON

121

He wore
His charger was
an ordinary Polish horse, while his generals and Court
officials had English horses, in a very famished condition.
When Napoleon came out, many of the inhabitants of
Moscow, who had drunk deep of the cup of suffering, ran
away as soon as they caught sight of his numerous suite.
Others, of a more daring disposition, ventured to peep
stealthily from behind ruined walls.
And lastl}', in a street
near the poultry market, a group of small burgesses,
numbering about forty, whose clothes were in tatters, and
whose faces, through the combined effects of fear, hunger,
and cold, retained scarcely any semblance of humanity,
waited till the suite approached the end of the street,
then fell on their knees, stretching out their arms to the
Emperor, bewailing what they had suffered, lamenting
their utter ruin, and begging for mercy and bread
" But this inhuman creature turned his horse away to
the right, and merely bade his secretary learn what they
breast,

and a crimson ribbon round the

tunic.

a low cocked hat and a small cockade.

wanted.

end Moscow was a scene of indescribable

The houses which had survived the fire were plundered, and the churches looted.
All the pavements and side-walks were littered with
"

From end

to

horror and utter desolation.

fragments of chandeliers, mirrors, furniture, pictures, books,

church-plate, and even the sacred ikojis of the saints."

As we have alread}' said, when the plundering began,

even the severest prohibitions scarcely availed to check
the reign of lawlessness.

Sebastiani, for instance,

when

complaints were made, was obliged to declare that he was

unable to restrain his men. In the orders of September

Napoleon says
neglect their duty
22,

"

In spite

of

all

orders, the patrols

at night the sentinels

fail

to challenge

NAPOLKOX

122
those

who

officers

On

pass."

IN

RUSSIA

Sc[)tcmbcr 24 he says

"

To-da)- the

omitted to sahilc the ICm])ei'or with their swords

on parade."

"At

the Krendin," sa)-s Constant,

" tlie

da}'s were long

and tech'ous." Xapolec^n was waitini;' U)v the answer from
Among" other things his
Alexander that never came.
spirits were depressed by the flocks of crows and jackdaws
Jfo/i I)/c'u / " he cried, "do
that appeared in the city.
"
they mean to follow us everywhere ?
Napoleon rode daily through the city, mounted on a
little white Arab, and accompanied by a few generals and
aides-de-camp and fift)' Uhlans.
He spoke to nobody
while in the street. A theatre was opened for the men
and officers of the arm\- in one of the houses which were
still left, but Napoleon did not \isit it himself
Sometimes
in the exening he would play a game of cards with Duroc.
A few concerts were given at the Palace the Italian
Tarquinio, who had lately come from Milan, sang, and
"'

Martini played the piano

but the Emjieror listened with

Music," observes Constant, "had lost its

power over his disordered spirit." Evidently these distractions and the rides through the streets were insufficient
to counteract his gloomy meditations on the solution of
a heavy heart.

"

the insoluble problem,

how

to present the uller failure of

the campaign to ICurope as a gigantic success, and by

what stratagem to evade the inevitable.

Napoleon paraded and reviewed the Guards and the
garrison in all weathers, distributing rewards and crosses
of the Legion of Honour. The latter ceremony is de" A fat little man
scribed as follows by an eye-witness
marched down the steps of the Palace, surrounded by a
numerous suite of marshals and generals. The band struck
up, and he advanced to within some fifty paces of the front of

NAPOLEON
the

line.

right

He wore

down

a green uniform, and his hat was pulled

over his

the Legion of

123

The ribbon

penetrating eyes.

evil,

Honour which he wore was

of

so hidden under

He

sometimes
announcement
of the names of the newly-appointed chevaliers the band
gave a flourish. To judge by Napoleon's haughty look, he
was quite conscious of his own power."
It had meanwhile become plain that Alexander would
not condescend to reply. This was a terrible insult, and
Napoleon was correspondingly enraged.

his

uniform that

it

was not always

made speeches on

these occasions.

visible.

At

the

"On

October 3," says C onsta nt, "after passing a sleephe summoned his marshals. As soon as they
Come in Come in Listen to the new
appeared, he said
Prince Eugene, read it
plan I have thought of.
Burn
and march through Tver to St.
the remains of Moscow
Petersburg, where Macdonald is to join us, Murat and
Davout to command the rear-guard.' He gazed at his
generals in a state of great excitement; but they remained
impassive and silent, apparently only surprised.
He tried
to kindle some enthusiasm in them, and cried out
What
Are you not delighted at the notion ? Was there ever a
more glorious feat of arms ? What glory we shall reap
What will the world say when it hears that we ha\'e subdued the two great capitals of the North in three months ? "
Davout and Daru tried to damp his enthusiasm by pointless night,

'

'

'

ing out the lateness of the season, the scarcity of provisions,

the bare and exposed nature of the road from Tver to St.

Petersburg, a track through marshes which three hundred

peasants could

Why, they

render impassable within a few hours

urged, go north to meet the winter so eagerly,

was even then at their very doors ? And what of
the 6000 wounded in Moscow?
Must they be given up to

when

it

XAPOLKOX

124

IX

RUSSIA

Kulu/.of?
The latter would certainly pursue, and the
army would then have to act simultaneously on the offensive and defensive.
The time, they added, had come to
end the campaign, not to proloni^ it. The question was
not that of securing a superfluous victory, but of getting as

They must abandon all thoughts of Kutuzof and of fighting, and retire.
Napoleon had not only to listen to this advice, he had to
follow it.
The time had passed when he could say of his
marshals " These people think that they are indispensable;
they do not understand that I have a hundred brigade{juickly as possible into winter quarters.

commanders who could amply fill their

The marshals clearly saw not merely

places."

the dangers of the

approach of wM"nter, but also the precarious condition of the
army. From the moment of Napoleon's arrival at Moscow,
his pride

kept him

in a state of absolute ignorance U[)on

always took the army to be in the condiwhich he wished to see it, and he boldly adapted his

this subject.

tion in

le

orders to this view, refusing to listen to his generals

resolved, indeed, to

make no

their absolute necessity

was too

when

He was

they endeavoured to disabuse him of his error.

serious arrangements until

became apparent

until, in

fact, it

late.

Seeing the stubbornness of his marshals, and Russia's

unwillingness to take the hand which he had proffered too
late,

Napoleon showed remarkable consideration

for

the

happiness of the two contending nations, and resolved to

secure peace at any

he wished at

first

jjrice.

In vain did Caulaincourt,

to send as

an envoy to

St.

represent that at this season of the year Russia must

own

whom

Petersburg,
feel

her

strength and su[)eriorit\^ and that any such attempt

would do more harm than good, inasmuch

betray the difficulty of his position.

as

it

would

Napoleon, whose chief

NAPOLEON
fear

was

125

he should have to utter the word

lest

"

Retreat,"

charm of his own personality.

He could not admit, with Tilsit and Erfurt in his mind,
that this charm would be less effective in Moscow than in
Paris, and resolved to send General Lauriston to Kutuzof's
resolved once

more

to try the

Lauriston also ventured to submit that at

head-quarters.

year it was time, not to be negotiating

from Moscow, but to be retiring to Kaluga, and that as
quickly as might be.
Napoleon answered bitterly that
he himself was in favour of the simplest plan, and the
this season of the

straightest road

the

high-road

the road by which the}' had

and

come

in

the present case

but he would not

tra\'el

had been concluded. He then showed

to Lauriston, as he had showed to Caulaincourt, his letter
to Alexander, bade him approach Kutuzof and request a
along

it

until peace

The

pass to St. Petersburg.

position

was expressed

to Lauriston

me

"

desire peace

peace, coute que

means you can

hopelessness of Napoleon's

at this intcr\iew in his last

coiLte !

you hear

But save

my

my

words.

words
Get

honour by any

The" "old fox," Kutuzof,

full}'

appreciated the necessit}'

of keeping Napoleon in Moscow, and humoured Lauriston

envoy flattered himself with the

most extravagant hopes of a speedy peace, and, what is
more, inspired his Emperor with the same delusion.
The position of the French army, however, began in
A desultory
the meanwhile to assume a critical aspect.
guerilla warfare broke out, and in order to procure forage it
was necessary to send large detachments with a pou'erful
P^very measure of oats and
escort of cavalry and artiller}'.
every truss of hay was obtained by hard fighting. Then
These men
the peasants began to take part in the war.
so cleverly that the poor

XAl^OLKOX

126

whom Napoleon

liad

IX

tauL;ht his

RUSSIA
troops to look upon as

hereditary helots and barbarians, exhibited an unlooked-for

indei)endence, and refused to accept the favours which the

upon them.
Recognizing the danger of his position, and feeling
that he was being hoodwinked, yet not daring to break off
his overtures to the Russian Government, X^apoleon cast
around for some means of making peace necessary to his
foreigner endeavoured to foist

He began to collect information regarding

Pugachofs rebellion, and endeavoured to procure a copy of
one of the Pretender's latest manifestoes, expecting to find
adversar}'.

in

it

a guide to the families that could lay claim to the

Russian throne.

In the course of his inquiry he was ready

to turn for advice to

He

any one

soon saw, however, that

anything by

this

it

whom

he chanced to meet.
would be difficult to effect

means, and abandoned the idea of using

Pugachof

The

Tartars were invited to go to

Kazan and summon

They were

their brethren to declare their independence.

promised support as soon as they should

came of

this proposal.

I*\'ilse

reports of

rise

all

but nothing

kinds were then

was pretended that Riga had been taken by

whole length of tlie roafl from Vilna to
was
covered
with a train of wagons bearing winter
Smolensk
clothing to the army, that Marshal Victor was bringing up
large reinforcements, that next sj)ring the army would be
as strong and well-equipped as when it crossed the frontier;
circulated.

It

assault, that the

in short, that if

winter the

None

the Russians did not

Emperor would adopt

make peace

that

stern measures.

of these reports and projects, however,

came

to

was received from St. Petersburg, and

the war assumed a more and more serious aspect.
An

an}-thing.

X^o repl)'

NAPOLEON

127

armed band, with a priest at its head, captured the town

of Vereya, near Moscow, under the very nose of the Grande
Armee. Others seized two immense convoys on the highroad to Smolensk, the only route by which Napoleon was
It
able to communicate with Europe, and with France.
was becoming clear that the great invasion was a fiasco,
and Napoleon was obliged to reconsider his opinion as to
the system by which the Russians should defend their
When they were attacked in the centre they
country.
their forces on the flanks, and seemed almost as
all
directed
if they would overpower them.
Worst of all, winter was now approaching. Napoleon at
He grew uneasy, and began to
last realized the fact.

make

unobtrusive preparations for departure.

He
Poor Moscow bore the brunt of his resentment.
gave orders to strip the covers from the ikons and fling
them, with the censers, crosses, and plates, into the meltingTwo and a quarter hundred-weight of gold and six
pot.
tons of silver were converted into bullion for transmission
to France.

so-called

"

In addition to this Napoleon took a

trophies

"

number of

the arms of Moscow from the Senate

House, the eagle from the gates of

St. Nicholas, the cross

from the belfry of John the Great. The removal of this

The Emperor
gigantic cross cost no little time and labour.
wished to use it as an adornment for the Church of the
Hotel des Invalides. While personally superintending its
removal he lost all patience with the clouds of "accursed
jackdaws which hovered over the belfry as if the}' had a

mind

to defend the cross

Duke

of

"

It is said

Wagram, who was standing

that Berthier, the

with General

Dumas

on a balcony outside the Empress' apartments while the

work of removing the cross was in progress, unable to
restrain his anger,

exclaimed

"

To

think of a

man doing

NAPOLEON

128
like

thini;-

pocket

when he

tliis

as

RUSSIA

IN

l^oocI

as

has peace

his

in

"

Moscow a very curious

The Commanders of Army Corps were
present tables showiiiLj the number of sick who

Shortly before the departure from

order was issued.
directed to

could recover, (i) within a week

within a

month

probably

die, (i)

within a fortnight

Provision was to be

all

the

rest

(2) within a fortni^dit

(3)

and secondly, the number who would

made

(2) within three

weeks.

only for the departure of Class

were to be

behind.

left

Not

less extra-

ordinary, considering the depopulated and devastated state

of the countr)', was the order to jnirchase exactly 20,000

and to procure fodder
horses, neither more nor less
;

two months and that in a position where even the

most distant and dangerous expeditions were insufficient to
procure enough forage for daily needs.
During the latter half of his stay in Moscow Napoleon's
anxieties once more gave rise to constant outbursts of
At his morning lex'ccs, for instance, when he was
temper.
surrounded by his chief officers, he would challenge their
inquiring looks, which seemed to him to be full of reproach,

for

with his stern impassive glance but his hard abrupt way of
speaking and the pallor of his countenance showed that he
;

gave him no peace. He would

harsh, even cruel, reproaches,
vent his wrath at times
which afforded him no relief, but rather added to the

knew

the truth, and that

it

in

by the consciousness of his injustice.

was only, according to Segur, in his con\-ersations with

tension of his feelings

It

The

state of Napoleon's

temper and the keenness with w

h'u

li

lie felt

were retlccted in his treatment of his servants. "His

" who happened one day to
trusty henchman, Roustan," says Soltyk,
put Napoleon's left boot on his right foot, found iiimself stretched on
the broad of his back by a vigorous kick."

his

position

Disillusion.

NAPOLEON

129

Count Daru during his sleepless nights, that he entirely

unburdened his mind. " He wished," he said, " to attack
Kutuzof and either annihilate or drive him from before him,
and then to fall rapidly back upon Smolensk." But Daru
answered that though this might have been done before, it
was now no longer feasible. The Russian army, he pointed
out, was stronger than ever, and his own weaker the victory
and as soon as his
of Mozjaisk was already forgotten
army turned back towards France it would slip like water
through his fingers, for every soldier was loaded with booty,
and would hurry forward into France to dispose of it.
" Then what am I to do ? "
" Stay here," said Daru
" turn Moscow into a great
fortified camp, and so pass the winter.
There is plenty of
for that.
For all else,
bread and salt
I can answer
;

'

'

great foraging expeditions can provide.

all
if

the horses for which there

is

no

down

will salt

As

forage.

for quarters,

there are not houses enough, there are plenty of cellars.

This

will help us to last

inforcements, backed by
to the rescue

At

this

and help us

out
all

to

suggestion, the

evidently buried in thought

de lion

but what

What have

will

till

when our recome

the spring,

Lithuania

in

arms, will

complete our conquest."

Emperor was
;

silent a

while,

"

Conseil

then he answered,

Paris say

What

will

they do

they been doing these past three weeks

No

one can foresee the impression which six months of uncertainty may have upon the Parisians.
No France is not
accustomed to my absence. Prussia and Austria will take
advantage of it."
Napoleon was already engaged in imparting an artificial
;

warmth

to the zeal of his allies.

structions

he had before given

In
to

adding new ones, he did not forget

confirming the

in-

Schwarzenberg, and
to allow

him

"

12,000

XAI'OLICOX

130
francs per

month

for secret

RUSSIA

IX

expenses

to be })aid to the account of the future

ail)'

confer

He

nor did he refuse

upon

for his

even begged the Emperor of Austria to

him

tlie

dignity

suggested \arious cUstinctions

of

h^ield-Marshal,

his

for

Schwar/.enberg, recruiting one good

secretly informed Berthier that the

on him

"
;

rewards sohcited by Scliwarzenberi^

of the

nominees.

and ordered 500,000

personall}', but that

and

army.
turn with another,

Emperor could count

he must not rely upon Austria.

reluctant to announce his

Already half defeated, he deferred
from day to day a public avowal of the disaster that had
X^aj5oleon,

however, was

still

intention of retreating.

and
morbid

Amid

the gathering clouds of military

Xapoleon, who had always shown a
was absolutely inert. Pie spent his days

overtaken his arms.

political disaster,

in

activity,

discussing the merits of various odes and sonnets that

had lately arrived from Erance, specimens of which we

have given above, or in revising the regulations for the
Comedie h'ranc^aise
a task on which he spent three

evenings.
It

was

generall}'

remarked that

usually simple and short, were

his dinners

now

and suppers,

prolonged, and that he

began to sustain his flagging energies with spirits.

grew heavy and sluggish, and would pass whole hours
sitting, half-lying,

with a novel

in

He
half-

his hand, his eyes fixed

upon vacancy, awaiting the dciioucmoit of this terrible

The letter to Alexander at St. l^Hersburg, which
he sent b}' Lauriston under the escort of Volkonsky, should
drama.

have arrived on Sei^tembcr 24. A reply

expected until October 20, and Na})oleon
awaiting that date. According to Constant,
spent at Moscow, preceding October 18,
gloomy his Majesty seemed deliberate!)'
;

could

not be

was evidently
"

the last days

were terribly
cold and un-

NAPOLEON

131

communicative for whole hours together no one who was

with him would dare to begin a conversation."
Throughout this period the official sources of information, the despatches and the Moniteur, carefully concealed
Thus we read " On October 3 winter began
the truth.
to make itself felt in Moscow.
Our troops are in quarters,
and preserve the most excellent discipline. We found in
Moscow all the Turkish standards taken during the last
hundred years and more."
Murat at this time sent a despairing report from the
advance-guard regarding the scarcity from which they
were suffering and the rapid disappearance of the remains
of the cavalr)'.
Berthicr was alarmed at this information.
Napoleon summoned the officer who brought the report,
and so questioned and cross-questioned him that in the
end he began to doubt his own information. Napoleon at
once availed himself of this hesitation to support Berthier's
;

flagging hopes, and assure

position to wait,

with the

full

and

him

that they were

finally sent the officer

still

in a

back to Murat

conviction that he would spread the notion in

the advance-guard that the

Emperor had

his plans fully

thought out and decided upon.

It

is

impossible to

confidence in his

believe that

Napoleon had

entire

own optimism, for his every action was

mark of indecision. All who came into

stamped with the

contact with him were astounded by the entire absence of
his former promptitude and audacity, which had always
been equal to the necessities of the moment. They recognized that his genius was no longer able to adapt itself to
circumstances, as in the days when his star was in the
ascendant.
He was now obstinate and rebellious, and
could not reconcile himself to the shipwreck of his plans.

Not only

his military projects, but all his other

schemes

XAPOLKOX

132

IN

RUSSIA

which the world regards as strokes of genius if they arc

sanctified by success, and dishonourable cunning if they
fail
missed their aim and vanished in smoke. To the

of these abortive plans besides the endeavours of

which we have spoken to raise the peasants and the Tartars
we must add the miserable fiasco of the bank-notes,
which he had forged to the extent of 100,000,000 roubles.
list

It

is

impossible to refuse to credit the existence of these

hundred-rouble notes of Parisian manufacture.

Berthier,

one of his letters, laments the loss of his last carriage

which contained "the most secret papers." In this carriage
was found a piece de co}iviction of the most damning character
a plate for printing Russian hundred-rouble notes.
Every precaution was taken before the war to prevent
the Parisian artists, who were engaged to engrave the
plates, from learning the true character of the nefarious
task upon which they were employed.
The forgery was
carried on very slowly, to Napoleon's great annoyance
he
more than once insisted upon the work being advanced
more cjuickl}^ The campaign had alread}' begun when
they brought him twent)--cight cases of forged notes, and
if he did not succeed in uttering them, it was only because
there was no one
there were no inhabitants on his road
to pay and no one to reward.
In the spring of 181 2 the Duke of Bassano handed over
to Frenckel, a banker of Warsaw, forged notes to the
in

amount of 20,000,000 roubles, with instructions to circulate

them beyond the Russian frontier as the French advanced.
In order to facilitate this operation, a rumour was spread
that when the Prench occupied \^ilna they seized notes to
the amount of many millions, but the report proved inThe merchant Nakhodkin, who was acting as
effectual.
Mayor of Moscow, received 100,000 roubles for his services.

NAPOLEON

133

Pozdn}-kof, Kolchugin, and others were rewarded in the

same wa}', but the\' could not bring themselves to put the

Tutolmin, the honourable director

notes into circulation.

of the Foundling, refused outright to

accept an)' bribe.

was mere maliciousness on their part," he wrote in his

report to the Emperor, " that led them to offer me forged
notes, of which the)^ had brought a great quantity, and

" It

with which they even paid the troops at Napoleon's

own

was with great reluctance that the Guards

accepted these notes in payment, though the forgeries were
cleverly executed, and afterwards accepted in error even

order."

It

by the Russian banks.

Napoleon's inactivity was infectious.

It

was not

until

October 7 that leather was distributed, by the orders of

Berthier, the head of the staff, to repair the soldiers' boots,
and then it was too late. It was also too late when the
slightly

wounded and

the convalescent, together with the

trophies that had been captured, were despatched to

Moz-

and wounded were moved into

were told off to attend
doctors
French
the Foundling, and
them, in the hope that the Russian wounded who were
among them would serve as a kind of protection.
Napoleon concentrated the various arm}' corps that were
stationed outside the cit}- on the Moskva, and reviewed

jaisk.

The

rest of the sick

The obvious
them even more frequently than before.
weakness of the battalions was a constant source of annoyance to him, and he ordered the troops to be drawn up two
instead of three deep.

It

is

difficult to find a

reason for

Napoleon was endeavourchange, unless we assume

ing to deceive himself and others by lengthening the lines.
During one of these reviews in the court}-ard of the
Kremlin, a rumour was circulated among his suite that
artillery fire was to be heard in the direction of the advancethis

that

XAl'OLKOX

134
guard.

At

to the fact

no one dared to

first
;

IX

seriously disturhc-d.

call

Napoleon's attention

summoned up courage

but Duroc

him of the news, and

RUSSIA

all

to inform

was
and was
when an aide-de-camp from

C)bser\cd that the Em[)cror

lie soon recovered himself

about to continue the

rc\ic\\

Murat came galloping up with the information that the

King's first line had been taken by surprise and routed
that his left flank had been surrounded under cover of the
woods, his right attacked, and his communications cut.
Twelve guns, twenty caissons, and a number of baggagewagons had been captured, two generals killed, and three
to four thousand men lost.
He added that the King himself
had been wounded, but he had saved the remnants of his
command by means of repeated attacks on the overwhelming forces of the enem\', who had just begun to occupy the
only road by which he could retreat. Murat's report was
;

" the advance-guard no longer exists, for the exhausted

remnant of it could certainly not survive more than one more
battle with the enemy, who have become bolder than ever."
This was on October i8. The war was being renewed,
said the French
it was just beginning, said Kutuzof.
At the news of this attack, Napoleon recovered all his
former energ)'. lie issued a thousand orders, embracing
the most important movements and the most trivial details,
and before nightfall the whole army was in motion. At
dawn on the 19th, the ICmpcn^- himself Ijft Moscow, with
a bold declaration that he was moving on Kaluga " And

that

woe

to

He

him who

tries to

bar

my

wa)-."

meaning to
reach the frontier of Poland by way of Kaluga, Med\n,
Rapp, who accompanied him,
Yelnya, and Smolensk.
observed that it was getting late in the year and winter
left

Moscow by

the old Kaluga road,

would overtake them on the wa}'

but the lunperor

rei)lied

NAPOLEON

135

must be given time to rest and recover,

must be moved from Mozjaisk, Moscow, and
Then he pointed to
the Kolotzk}- monaster}- to Smolensk.
the clear blue sk}-, and asked if they did not see the star of
his fortune in the sun above them and in the continued fine
that the soldiers

and the

sick

weather.

"The

sinister

expression of his countenance,"

"

gave the lie direct

hope and simulated confidence."
says an eye-witness,

In this instance, as in every other,

those

him

who were brought most

to decide

it

closel}-

words of

to these

was hard even

for

into contact with

whether he spoke from conviction or not.

Considering the explicit nature of the reports that were

sent in to him, it is impossible to suppose, for instance, that

was through ignorance that he so entirely misrepresented

the truth as to the engagement of the advance-guard under
Murat. This was the celebrated battle of Tarutina, the
About
real beginning of the debacle of the French army.
50,000 were engaged and utterly routed, losing some 4000
killed and wounded, thirty-eight guns, one flag, and the
whole of the baggage.^
Napoleon in his despatches gives the following account
" A number of Cossacks have begun
of the eneafrement
't>"ft>^
it

The

would certainly have ended in the capture of the whole

who disapproved of the engagement, refused to support Bcnigsen. Kutuzof was of opinion that
Napoleon and his troops should be left as long as possible undisturbed
in and around Moscow, in order that they might be tempted to stay
but when once he
until the frosts began, and in this he was right
allowed an attack on his recklessly incautious adversary, it was unpardonable not to send the help which was demanded when the battle
was at its height. For the opportunity of escaping, though not without serious losses, the French were entirely indebted to Kutuzof and
Some say that General O. D.
his chief advisers Tol and Kaissarof.
all kinds
could hardly keep in his saddle that day, and seme say
1

battle

of Murat's force, had not Kutuzof,

of things.

XAPOLKOX

136

make

to

trouble.
b\-

tlicir

The

and given our

ap[icarancc,

cavali')-

their wa)' into

the

mob

camp

of these Cossacks,

before our

time to mount, caj^tured General Sebastiani's

consisting of 100 wagons, and

The King

some

cavalry advance-guard, which was stationed

Vinkovo, was surprised by a

who made

RUSSIA

IX

made about

men had
baggage,

100 prisoners.

head of his
and attacked a column of the
consisting of four battalions, which

of Xaples placed himself at the

Cuirassiers and Carabineers

enem\''s light infantr\',

had been sent

to sup[)ort the Cossacks, with such success

that he routed and annihilated

adjutant,

and a brave

The Carabineers

officer,

it.

was

General Desi, the King's

killed in this skirmish.

distinguished themselves."

When Napoleon

from a new

envoy to the
no
forward
moveRussian camp that Kutuzof had made
ment, he started for Kaluga, making a circuit round the
Russian troops with the object of avoiding an engagement.
We are forced to the conclusion that he onl}' spoke of
dashing Kutuzof to pieces, and opening the road before
his troops, with a view to rousing the drooping spirits of
his men, and distracting the attention of P^urope.
He
must have seen that though his troops could fight in
defence of the enormous booty they had taken, they could
no longer win victories.^
learned

impossible to read without a smile Thiers' eulogy of Napoleon's

indeed such an absurd plan could ever have existed of wintering with the army in the more temperate climate of Kaluga and of
keeping up communication with Smolensk, and with Moscow in the
^

It is

plan

if

Napoleon was to have maintained

and entrusted its defence to Marshal
Morticr and 4000 dismounted cavalry (?), who would have formed
infantry battalions.
He was to have left there the more cumbrous
part of his materie/, together with the wounded, sick, etc., and have
rear.

According

to this project.

possession of the Kremlin

(?)

provided that experienced soldier, the Marshal, with a garrison

strong,

and with provisions

for six

months.

io,ck)0

XAPOLEOX
The

137

retreating French arm}' covered a vast extent of

Of the column
men, with 50,000 horses
ground.

guard, with

still

endless

rest

from a successful

lines

rifles,

550

guns, and

recalled the warriors

The

Europe.

returning

haversacks and

artillery-wagons,

quered

which consisted of nearly 50,000

the 100,000 who formed the van-

of march there was

Along three
a

hopeless

con-

horde

resembled a Tartar
raid.

2000

who had
or

four

tangle of

and caissons, of smart barouches mixed up with

wagons of every description. In one place were trophies
of Russian, Turkish, and Persian flags, and the huge cross
carriages

in another were bearded Russian

dragging along French booty of which they
themselves formed part.
Others were drawing wagons
laden with everything on which they had been able to lay

of Ivan the Great

peasants

They had no chance of reaching even

made nothing of 2000 miles

hands.
etape,

but their greed

the

first

or more.

Elegant carriages passed along drawn by undersized horses

These carriages were filled with

plunder and with French women, former inhabitants of
harnessed with ropes.

Moscow,

flying

Muscovites.

before the anticipated vengeance of the

Many

Russian

women were

also to be seen,

some following the army of necessity, and some of their

own free will. One might have fancied, say those who
witnessed the scene, that this was some caravan of nomads,
or some army of early da}'s returning from a foray with
women, slaves, and all kinds of spoil.
In spite of the breadth of the road and the cries of his
body-guard, Napoleon could scarcely manage to make his

way through

they no longer paid much

pushed forward in silence, and
proceeded along the old Kaluga road. For some hours
he pursued this direction, but at mid-day, on the heights
attention

to

this endless host

him.

He

NAPOLEON

138

RUSSIA

IN

march suddenly
and reached the new road to Kaluga in three

of Krasna\-;i I'akhra, he turned the line of

to the

rii;'ht

marches across country, the movement being covered by

Ne)''s corps and the remains of Mural's cavalr}-. Bcrthier's
letter to Kutuzof, received on the da\' of the exacuation of
Moscow, descanting u[)on the theme of humanity and love
of one's

fellows,

throw dust

in

was a military stratagem intended to

day of

the eyes of the Russians and gain a

luidisturbed retreat.

This ruse very nearly achieved

its

end

but

it

so

happened

that the Russian free-lance, Figner, detected the retreat of

the

army and

carried the

news

to Kutuzof,

The

without precaution at Letashefka.

who was

l^ussian

lying

general

immediately moved parallel to Napoleon upon Kaluga.

There can be no doubt that if Napoleon had cared less
for the preservation of his plunder and more for speed he
would have arrived before the Russians but moving as he
;

did without haste, no faster than circumstances conveniently

permitted, he made the irretrievable mistake of arriving too
late.
"

Never,"

sa}'s

Fezensac,

'*

did

the

h'rench

arm}- carry

such a quantit)' of baggage. Every squadron was provided with a wagon for its provisions, and burnt what it
could not carr\- without the formality of asking permission

commander."
Rene liourgeois, "and especially the
Guards, were laden with gold, silver, and precious things,

from

tlic batlah"()n

"The

stuffed

troops," .says

into c\ery possible

place, regarrlless of the pro-

The result was that the}- had not got far froin
visions.
Moscow before the arm}' began to want for the first
There were few of the officers who
necessaries of life.
were not
soldiers

proxidcd

with

furs,

had no clothing beyond

Init

the

majority

their uniforms

of the

and great-

NAPOLEON
while

coats,

their

boots

were

139
a

in

most

lamentable

plight."

The French army slowly made its way to Malo Jaroslavetz,

The advance-guard had already occupied the town, and the
seemed to be successfully
Napoleon was taking his dejeuner in the open
with Murat, Berthier, and General Lariboisiere, when he
suddenly heard artillery fire from the direction of the
advance-guard. Fighting had begun at Malo Jaroslavetz.
The Emperor mounted and galloped in the direction of
the cannonade.
The Viceroy's aide-de-camp, who brought
news that all the available forces had gone into action,
received the answer
" Ride back to the Viceroy and tell
him that now he has begun he must drink the cup to the
"
dregs.
I have ordered Davout to support him
The battle was a sharp one. Malo Jaroslavetz was captured and re-captured eleven times.
The town was utterly
destroyed, and the course of the streets was indicated only
by the piles of corpses with which they were strewn. The
houses were mere heaps of ruins, among which might be
principal obstacle to their progress

surmounted.

When

seen the limbs of charred corpses.

the

Emperor

reached the scene of action, he was shown redoubts which

the Russians,

when

repulsed,

had hastily constructed.

The

general opinion of the French was that Kutuzof would not

retire,

and that the action would end

in a

general engage-

ment, to which the vigour of the French troops and the

ammunition of their artillery were alike unequal.

" At Malo Jaroslavetz," sa}'s Fezensac, " the advantage of
the day rested with the French, but Kutuzof fell back upon
a new position and strengthened it with redoubts.
One of
his divisions actuall}' began to make its way round our
right along the
retreat or

Medyn

engage

road.

We

were obliged either to

in a serious battle."

XArOI.KOX

140

The

I\

RUSSIA

was extremely grave.

position

ro(ln)-a,

In the village of

on the road to

a ("onncil of

Go-

]\Ialo Jaroslavctz,

War was summoned

to con-

sider the question.

Marshal Bessieres and

the other generals were of opinion that the)must retreat not that they were doubtful

Mm
\i\

of victory, but the>- dreaded the losses that

must ensue, and the probable demoraliz-

ation and disorganization of the army.

cavalry and the artillery horses w^ere worn out with
work and want of food, and it was impossible to replace

The

lost.
How were they to transport their
ammunition, and the wounded, of whom there

those that were

artiller}'. their

would certainly be a large number? Under these circumKaluga seemed a very risky enterprise,
and prudence counselled retreat through Mozjaisk to
Smolensk. Bessieres was the first to suggest retreat, and
stances the march to

the others followed

time, but at

last,

and studying the

suit.

Napoleon hesitated for a long

whole day in inspecting
and in hearing the opinion and

after passing the

locality

advice of his generals, he resolved to retire to Mozjaisk,

and thence to retreat along the devastated route of his
advance.
In Bulletin XXII. Napoleon gave the following account
of the important battle of Malo Jaroslavetz and the subsequent decision to retire
" At Malo Jaroslavetz the Russians brought
two or three
armies into action, but without effect. The enemy retired

in such disorder that they were obliged to throw twenty

guns into the ri\-er. The ICmperor rode into Malo Jaroslavetz and inspected the enemy's position.
He ordered

an

attack,

but

Emperor then

the

eneni)'

escaped

returnerl b)- wa)- of

in

the

night.

The

Vere)-a to Smolensk,

NAPOLEON
i.e.

to the road

The weather

is

141

on which he had previously travelled.

brilliant

and the roads are excellent.

The

Guards have distinguished themselves. General

Baron Delsome, a first-rate officer, received three bullet
wounds and was killed. The old Russian infantry was
annihilated.
It is stated upon good authority that only
Italian

the front ranks of the Russians consist of soldiers.

rest are

the

made

up of recruits and militiamen, with

Government has broken

arms."

And

faith in

The

whom

keeping them under

so forth.

Napoleon now increased the rate of march, and reprimanded Davout continually for the slowness of the rearguard. What this slowness really amounted to may be
gathered from the report given by Platof, Hetman of the
Cossacks, who followed Davout from Mozjaisk. He stated
" no army can be said to
that the enemy was in flight
circumstances they abandon their
retire under such
wounded, their sick, and their heavy baggage by the way."
After leaving Mozjaisk the French army passed by the
plain of Borodino, on which more than 30,000 corpses had

At the approach of the troops, flocks of carrionleft.

crows rose with hideous cries from the torn and mangled
In spite of the cold, the latter emitted
bodies of the dead.

been

a most nauseating odour.

head nor uttered a word

for he was on foot.
It is said that

when

Napoleon neither turned

his

he merely quickened his step

the Emperor's column approached

Gzhatsk they found the road strewn with freshly-slain

Russians, all with their heads blown open in the same
manner, by a point-blank shot, and their blood and brains
They knew that 2000 Russian prisoners
scattered around.
had gone on in front under escort, and they understood
that these were the bodies of those who could not keep

NArOLl-:ON

142

up with the
trouble.

others

rest,

Some
held

IX

and who had been shot

of the suite were

their

RUSSIA

while yet

peace,

None

cold-blooded butchery.

filled

to save further

with

indignation,

others justified

of those

who were

this

with the

Emperor dared to e.xpress their feelings, except Caulainwho exclaimed " This is the foulest brutality And
this is the civilization which we have imported into Russia!
The enemy will requite our barbarity there are numbers
of wounded and captive Frenchmen in their hands, and
there is nothing to prevent them revenging themselves on
us."
Napoleon was stern and silent, but next day the

court,

butchery ceased
stop

no

doubt he had

taken

measures to

it.

With regard

to these prisoners, the

witnesses at head-cjuarters

testimony of eye-

same

"

There
was a column of Russian prisoners marching in front of us,"
says Fain, " guarded by soldiers of the Rhine Federation.
They flung them fragments of horse-flesh for their food,
and their guards had orders to kill those who fainted by
the way and could not proceed.
The road was scattered
with their dead bodies, their brains blown out."
" The Baden Grenadiers," says Rooss, " who escorted
Napoleon's baggage, had orders, if any of the Russian
prisoners succumbed and were unable to proceed, to shoot
them on the spot. Two of these Grenadiers informed me
that it was Napoleon himself who gave the order."
" My pen positively refuses," says M. de B., " to describe
is all

to the

effect.

our treatment of the Russian i)risoners during the retreat,

the cruelty and savager)- c^f which it has in vain been
sought to excuse by the law of necessity, and by the

exceptional

circumstances

in

which the

I'^rcnch

himself saw.

"On

troops

were placed."

Labaume describes what he

the road

NAPOLEON

143

they had no means of feeding the 3000 Russian prisoners

Moscow. They drove them along like so many

cattle, and would not allow them to leave the narrow space
Fireless and frozen,
allotted to them under any pretext.
they lay upon snow and ice, and in their unwillingness to
die, longing to stay the pangs of hunger with any nourishment, they ate the bodies of such of their comrades as
succumbed. It must be added that these were not captives
taken with arms in their hands, but a rabble composed of
men of every class who were found in the streets of
Moscow."
Perofsky, an officer of noble birth, who was kept prisoner
taken

in

in spite

of

the rules of war, gives the following account

all

"

of this butchery,

heard a

rifle-shot, to

non-commissioned
in

command

that

Suddenly, a few paces

which

at first paid

in

came and reported

officer

our rear w^e

no attention.

to the officer

he had shot one of the prisoners.

my

and I asked the officer to

explain the statement.
I have written instructions,' he
replied politely, to shoot all prisoners who, from fatigue
or any other cause, fall more than fifty paces behind the
could not believe

ears,
'

'

rear

column.

of the

The

escort

has received decisive

day some six

and among them was one of the
civil officials.
Sometimes we heard as many as fifteen
shots in a day.
I once saw a veteran sink upon the road
from fatigue three times the Frenchman who stopped to
shoot him put the muzzle of his gun to the Russian's head,
orders to that

or seven

effect.'

men were

In the course of the

shot,

three times did he pull the trigger

At

last

he

left

proved more

saw that
in

effective.

their

the

rifle

missed

fire

him, and sent a comrade whose musket

Some

of the prisoners,

when they

end was approaching, espied a church ahead

They strove to drag themselves to the

the distance.

XAPOLICOX

144

RUSSIA

IX

porch, and were there shot dead with prayers

upon

their

lips."

The author

of this last statement, who afterwards became

would doubtless ha\c shared their fate but for his
deliverance b}' a band of free-lances under the command
a count,

of Cheznyshof.

On

Xapoleon reached Vyazma. For the

Moscow he wore a sable cap, a
green pelisse edged with sable, and slashed with gold frogs,
and fur-lined boots. He continued to wear this costume
during the rest of the retreat, and when the severe frosts
began, and it was impossible to sit in the saddle, he either
drove in a carriage or went on foot. The infantry of the
Old Guard camped round his head-quarters as before in
October

31,

time since leaving

first

a scjuare, finding shelter, as far as possible, in such houses

as were

The

still

standing.

who had

orders to burn everything, smashed

windows of the houses and set fire to them
with torches, cartridges, and even ammunition-boxes. The
towns and villages were filled with the smoke of burning
houses and the stench of decomposing corpses. Davout,
in

troops,

the doors and

who

despaired of preserving his

the

rear-guard

to

daily losses of the

increased

by

men under such

Napoleon saying

stances, wrote to

this

fire

such

army

in

should be

" It

villages

men and

as

circumleft

remain."

for

The

horses were greatly

destruction of every dwelling

on the

road.

The

battle of

Vyazma was most

Miloradovitch took a number

baggage.

disastrous

t(j

the French.

of prisoners, artillery, and

NaiJoletjn, however, onl)-

informed

who had been

I^'rance of the

by the
and topographers who were
taking plans, and a few wounded officers who were marchloss of

a few individuals

Cossacks,

some

engineers

ca})tured

On the WAV

Ho.MH.

NAPOLEON

145

ing without sufficient caution, running into danger instead

of marching in their place with the baggage.

On November

"

was a complete
change in the weather, and the blue sky entirely disappeared. The French army had for some time past been
moving through a frosty mist which grew constantly thicker
and thicker but on that day the mist turned into flakes of
snow it seemed as if the icy sky had united with the
frozen earth.
Everything took on a new and unknown
form.
The troops marched without knowing where they
were or where they were going to, meeting obstacles at
every step. While the soldiers were struggling forward
against the icy hurricane, the snow, whirled up by the
wind, drifted over the hollows and concealed their depth
the soldiers fell into them and were buried in the drifts,
and many who were already enfeebled lay where they fell.
Those who came behind them tried in vain to turn aside
the wind blinded their eyes with falling and drifting snow,
buffeted and confused them, and prevented them from
advancing.
Their wet clothing froze upon them, and a
garment of ice clung to their bodies and numbed their
limbs.
The strong bitterly cold wind caught their breath
as it issued from their mouths and turned it into icicles on
their beards and coats.
Trembling in every limb they
would plod on until the snow, forming balls under their
"

6,"

says Segur,

there

feet,

absolutely prevented

over a piece of

would

fall

and

wood
lie

all

progress

then, stumbling

body of a comrade, they

groaning and lamenting while the snow
or the dead

covered them up, leaving on the surface nothing but an

almost invisible hillock a soldier's grave. The whole road

was scattered with these tiny eminences, like a churchyard.

There was snow, snow everywhere, as far as the eye could
see nothing but a melancholy vista of snow.

The

effect

on

NAPOLEON

146

RUSSIA

IX

seemed to be a windingsheet wliich Nature was wrapping around the unfortunate

The only objects that stood out were the
French arm\fir-trees with their funereal green, standing motionless and
the imaginatitin was profound

it

huge, their black boughs outspread,

filling

the heart with

sadness and foreboding.

" Everything, even their weapons which had been serviceable at Malo Jaroslavetz, but were now only contemptible,

hindered the wretched soldiers

seemed

insufferably

heavy

their

in

when

the

progress.

miserable

They
men

stumbled, their muskets would fall and break or become

buried in the snow. They would rise to their feet without

them

not

hands

them intentionally hunger and

them from their grasp. Many had their

that they lost

cold had snatched

frost-bitten, while their fingers

clung

stiff

and numbed

to their muskets.
"

Then came

the sixteen-hour nights.

With the snow

was no place to lean

against, to stop at, to sit or rest upon, there was no spot in
which they could dig for roots to stay the pangs of hunger

every\vliere, covering everything, there

or obtain fuel for

fires.

The

troops did their best to form a

camp, but the wind cared for nobody, and rudely scattered
The fir-wood was covered with hoarall their preparations.

and would not take fire, fresh snow fell from the sky,
the old snow melted beneath, and even when, at infinite
At
pains, the fire was kindled, it could not be kept alight.
officers
last something like a fire might be obtained, and
and soldiers began to prepare their wretched supper of
scraps of lean meat from horses slaughtered or dead of
fatigue, with perhaps a few spoonfuls of oatmeal soaked in

frost

Next day a heap of

melting snow.

the position of the camp-fires,

of dead horses

"
!

and

frozen soldiers

all

marked

around lay thousands

XAPOLEOX
On

147

the da}' on which winter broke in

all its

horror on the

unfortunate French army, Count Daru stopped the head-

march and made a secret communicaEmperor.

It appeared that an estafcttc, the
first that had arrived for a whole week, had reached the
army with news of Malet's conspirac}\ On the march,
under the public gaze. Napoleon received the news with the
utmost sang-froid, but afterwards in camp he expressed the
quarters staff on the

tion to the

greatest wrath.

He was
after all

more angry

still

expectations of

its

of quarters and
"

furious.

at

rest,

provisions.

Smolensk, where the army,

found an insufficiency both

The Emperor was simply

never saw him," says his servant Constant,

"forget himself to such an extent.

dant

could

He

sent for the Inten-

hear his cries from the adjoining room.

Napoleon gave orders that this officer should be shot, and

was only by grovelling at the Emperor's feet that the
wretched man managed to get off."
The calamities of this stage of the retreat were accentuated
by the fact that no notice had been received of the return
of the army, and officials at Smolensk and elsewhere, taken
by surprise, completely lost their heads when they saw
these crowds of ravenous fugitives storming and plundering
it

much ad\-antage
who came after them.

their stores without

the ruin of

all

The army

not only obtained no respite in Smolensk,

proceeded on

There

is

to themselves, but to

its

march

in

it

a worse condition than ever.

no doubt that the Emperor hoped to give

his

disordered flight the air of a dignified and regular retreat,

for,

among

other things, he directed

Smolensk should be razed

his

own

expression,

"

that the walls

of

to the ground, in order, to use

that they might not stand in his

way

N.XrOLl'.OX

I4S

IX

RUSSIA

another time;" as if, at this moment of disaster, he could

have dreamt of a new invasion.
As we have already said, Napoleon rode the first part of
In this vehicle, which was closed
the way in a carriai^c.
and contained an abundant supj)])' of furs, the Emperor,

who was warmly

clad, did not of course feel the cold

Moreover, shut up with Murat

him-

he ran
less risk of being subjected to insults from his angry
soldiery, nor was he haunted by the spectacle of their
famine and despair, or the sound of their clamour for bread,
self.

bread, bread

in his carriage,

After Smolensk he covered a great part of the distance

on

foot,

and

in the

course of the march he of course had

ample opportunity of assuring himself of the

of his troops,

who were

The Emperor gave

terrible plight

suffering unspeakable hardships.

orders that the greater part of the

ill-

and weapons
the Dnieper and in

starred trophies, as well as a quantity of cannon

of every description, should be sunk in

But, come what might, he wished to

convey the cross of Ivan the Great to Paris, and he seems
to have brought it as far as Vilna.
We have already given some description of the sufferings
which the army underwent on its retreat, but the details

the Semlefsky Lake.

furnished by eye-witnesses are so

and

instruction, that

may add

full

a few

of character, interest,

more

extracts.

At

every step were to be seen gallant officers, dressed in

tatters, and leaning on sticks of pinewood, with their hair

Again and again one

and beards covered with icicles.
" Comrades," cried
assistance.
imploring
hear
them
might
"
rise,
give
me a hand I
me
to
one in piteous tones, help
"
Everyone passed on without even
cannot be left behind
Misery levelled all ranks and abolished
glancing at him.
;

NAPOLEON
all distinctions.

In vain did

many

149

of the officers insist upon

their right to

command

no one paid any attention to

orders

starving

colonel

the

common

had

beg

to

their

for a scrap of

he who had a store of

provisions, were he merely a simple officer's orderly, was
surrounded by a little court of sycophants, who laid aside
rank and distinction, and flattered and fawned upon their
biscuit

from the

soldier

more fortunate comrade. Officers accustomed to command,

and unacquainted with want, were in the most grievous
plight of all
every one shunned them to avoid rendering
them any service.
"A ;/ioi, vies amis ! help me to rise, I am a Captain of

Engineers," cried an officer piteously.

stopped,

"

passing grenadier

What, you are a Captain of Engineers

am

"

Work away

"

"

Yes,
''

your plans then

The road was covered with soldiers who no longer bore the
semblance of humanity, and whom the enemy would not
even trouble to take prisoners. Many were reduced by
cold and hunger to idiocy
they cooked and ate the dead
dear friend,

"

at

gnawed their own arms.

Others were so weak that they could not fetch a log of wood
nor carry a stone to sit upon
they seated themselves on
the bodies of the'r comrades and turned a dull fixed stare
bodies of their fellow-soldiers or

upon the burning embers.

Soon the

fire

would die out, and

rise, would fall

these living skeletons, having no strength to

dead beside the bodies on which they

warm

sat.

themselves by thrusting their naked

midst of the

ten men,

tried to

feet

into the

fire.

All the corps were

number of

Many

mixed up

the remnants formed a

detachments, or rather groups, of eight or

kept together and had everything in common.

little

who

Each group had a Russian horse

a conya as they called it,

under the impression they were speaking Russian for

NAPOLEON

ISO

cooking apparatus, and provisions

their baggage, their

every

member

Each of

RUSSIA

IX

and

of the group had also a sack for provisions.

communities lived apart from all the

who did not belong to them. The
members kept close together and did their utmost not to
get sejjarated in the crowd, and woe betide him who lost
sight of his mates
he would certainly find no one else to
take the least interest in him or give him any assistance.
rest,

these

little

repulsing every one

"

We

were a gang of

ruffians," says

ing neither person nor property.

and rogues of

we

us.

Without the

Labaume,

Necessity

" respect-

made

thieves

slightest feeling of

shame

from one another whatever we wanted. Arson,

murder, and destruction of every kind were incidents of
everyday life, and crime became second nature. With the
same indifference with which the soldiers set houses on
fire for the sake of a moment's warmth, they would deprive
stole

a weaker comrade of

all

his

store

little

for

their

own

maintenance."
In spite of the fearful condition of the troops, Napoleon

ordered occasional maiKcuvres

imagined.

form

Such

with

divisions as could

what

still

be

result

may

made

to per-

be

wandering about over snowday by retiring without their

and baggage, which had been abandoned in the

an}' evolutions, after

blocked roads, would end the

artillery

ditches.

The staff encampment, according to the testimony of

an eye-witness, presented a sad and pitiable spectacle.
" In a wretched outhouse, with a crazy roof, some twenty
officers, sandwiched with as many servants, were gathered
round a little fire. Behind them stood their horses, ranged
The smoke was so thick
in a circle to keep off the wind.
that one could hardly discern the forms even of those who
^\ere sitting close to the fire blow ing up a fiame under the

NAPOLEON

151

The rest,
cauldron in \\hich their food was simmering.
wrapped in cloaks and fur-coats, were lying side by side
almost on the top of one another for the sake of warmth.
They did not stir a limb, but every now and then one
might hear the voice of a man abusing his comrades for
moving about and treading on him, or cursing the neighing
of the

horses,

or

from the

the sparks

fire

burnt

that

his coat."

Napoleon, who now travelled

for the

most part on

foot,

clearly recognized the condition of the army, but he

no need
bulletins.

Bulletin

for giving
"

Europe any inkling of the truth

The roads

are very

XXVIII., "and are

we have
through cold and fatigue."
draught-horses

slippery,"

difficult

lost

saw

in his

he says

travelling

considerable

in

for the

number

From Vyazma he wrote

under cover of swarms

of Cossacks, cut the road between the Duke of Eckmlihl
and the Viceroy.
The Duke and the Viceroy attacked
"

Twelve thousand Russian

infantry,

them, drove them from the line of march, pursued them

into the forest,

and took a number of prisoners, including

Since then we have heard no

a general and six guns.

more of the Russian infantry

only the Cossacks are to

be seen moving about in the distance."

Not a word about the number of prisoners, guns, and
baggage taken by Miloradovitch in this battle, which
proved so disastrous to the French army, or of the fact
that the French had by this time lost some 40,000 prisoners,
about 25 generals, 500 guns, 30 flags, and, in addition to
a stupendous quantity of other baggage, all the trophies
from Moscow which they had not yet burnt or destroyed
!

If to this total

left

50,000

who had

died of their

been killed in different engagements since

Moscow, we may calculate that the army con-

sufferings, or

they

we add some

NAPOLEON

152

IX

RUSSIA

more than 70,000 men, and of these, inclusive

Imperial Guard, there were only about 10,000 able
to carry arms,
taincd not

of

tlie

Kutuzof

enemy

strictly enj(;ined his generals not to drive the

and for Napoleon and the Old Guard

from which he expected a most desperate
resistance, he ordered them to faiir dcs pouts d'or, reckoning that even if they survived cold and hunL;er they would
be unable to pass the Beresina, where they would have to
in

to despair,

particular,

deal with three armies at once.

position

upon which

it

is

This

is

the only sup-

possible to explain the unneces-

by the Russian Commander-inshowed any intention of

attacking their enfeebled adversary, and making an end
of him and the war at a blow.
The French arm)- or
rather the remains of it
was indebted for its escape, not
so much to its prestige, as to Kutuzof and Chichagof, and
sary caution

displayed

Chief whenever

his

generals

especially to the latter.

In consequence of Kutuzof's plan, the

Emperor and

his

picked troops were not harassed on the road to Krasnoye,

while Marshals Davout and Ney, who brought up the
rear,

were exposed to the most determined attacks.

At Krasnoye, Napoleon,

after a series of vacillating

contradictory movements, once more displayed

his

and
cha-

and audacity.
By a bold manceuvre he
held the Russians in check, and gave the remains of his
two divisions an opportunity of escaping.
While he was mancevring with tlie Guards, an indescribable mass of broken-down fugitives absolutely incapable
racteristic skill

of defence

filed past him.

In spite of his self-command
was e\ident that the sight of these destitute remnants
(jf his once invincible troops affected him deeply.
Throughout the night that followed he was unable to sleep, and
it

NAPOLEON

153

complained that he could not bear to think of the condition

"The very sight of them," he said, "fills
of his troops.

my

soul with horror."

"Imagine,

if

possible,"

says

Rene Bourgeois, "60,000

destitutes with sacks over their shoulders

in their

hands, covered with rags of the

and long

filthiest

sticks

'

description

stuck together anyhow, swarming with vermin, and absolutely starving

Add

to this picture pale, cadaverous faces

and blackened by the

smoke of fires, glazed and sunken eyes, dishevelled hair,
long filthy beards and you will still have but a faint
No men
notion of the appearance presented by the army
had brothers, friends, countrymen, or officers. Sa?{ve qui
peut was the order of the da}-. We were waging a desperate
and it may
wariare, each man against his neighbour
truthfully be said, both in the literal and the figurative
Wherever
sense, that the strong devoured the weak.
one turned one's eyes they fell upon scenes of horror and
barbarity.
If a man was suspected of concealing provisions
his comrades attacked him furiously, and snatched them
from him in spite of all his struggles and curses. All day
and every day one might hear the sound of dead men's
bones crunching beneath the feet of horses and the wheels
of the wagons, as they were crushed into the ruts."
In the face of these horrors one cannot but be surprised
that any fraction, however small, of the Grande Armee ever
managed to reach the frontier and the long-wished-for
winter quarters, and it will therefore not be without interest
covered with the dirt of camps

j
\

how the fugitives lived their daily life.

Whenever we halted," saj-s Bourgogn e,

to see
"

"

to

take

mouthful of food, the soldiers laid eager hands on the

horses that had been abandoned, or on those which were
not guarded, cut them up, collected their blood in sauce-

XAPOLKOX

154

RUSSIA

IN

pans, boiled and ate

it. ...
If it happened that the order
advance was given before they had time to finish, or the
Russians were seen approaching and they had to make off,
they carried their saucepans with them, and ate the contents
on the march. Their hands of course became smeared

to

with blood.
"

was

They fought on
with

filled

the slightest jjrovocation,

evil

words.

The

foulest

and the

air

abuse and the

were bandied about on the most frivolous

Every quarrel ended, as a rule, in the disputants
upon one another with fists and sticks the trooi)s

vilest epithets

occasion.
falling

had

in

fact arrived at

such a condition of savagery that

they were ready to tear one another

"

At the

the houses, sheds, outhouses, and

kind that were to be found, and

them' so

full

pieces.

in

halting-places they rushed like

that

it

in

was impossible

Those who could not get

as possible to the walls.

first

into

a few

moments packed

either to leave or enter.

in settled

The

madmen

buildings of whatever

down

task

was

outside, as near
to get firewood

purpose they would

and straw for the bivouac, and

climb on to the neighbouring houses and carry off roofs,
rafters, partitions, and everything combustible, reducing the
whole building to ruins, despite the cries, threats, and resistance of those who were within. The inmates had to stand
a regular siege and drive away their assailants by a sortie,
for this

or rather

by a

series of sorties, for the place of those

were repulsed would be

who

taketi b}' other besiegers stronger

and more resolute. They had to yield at last to superior

force and escape in order to avoid being buried in the
When it was impossible to effect a forcible entry
ruins.
the assailants would fire the building from outside in (jrder
to expel those who were warming themselves within.
This happened as a rule when a building was tenanted by

Napoleon.

Kerthier.

Bivouac.

Murat.

Rapp.

NAPOLEON
generals

who had

expelled

would then threaten

first

its

falling

occupants.

house on

to set the

The

latter

and actually

fire,

The unfortunate

put their threat into execution.

would rush

155

officers

door with execrations on their lips,

and crushing one another in their eagerness to
for the

escape."

Even those highest

in

command now

admitted that

Napoleon uT'leading his army to Moscow had made the

same error as Charles XII. when he invaded the Ukraine;
that from a military point of view the campaign was lost
by irresolution during the critical battle, alTd from a political
and that if
l)oint of view by the Burning of Moscow
the army had returned in ti me it m ight have retired in
good order. After its entry into Moscow the Russian
Commander-in-Chief and the Russian winter both gave the
French ample grace the former forty days, the latter fifty,
to rest and retreat.
And while they lamented the time
wasted in Moscow and the indecision shown at Malo Jaro;

slavetz

they reviewed the long catalogue of their

misfortunes.

Since leaving

Moscow

baggage, half their arfittery, thirty

they had

flags,

some

own

lost all their

thirty generals,

There remained some 50,000

helpless vagrants, and perhaps 10,000 who were still in a
40,000 prisoners, 60,000 dead.

condition to defend themselves

It

was, moreover, a grave

mistake to entrust the task of covering the retreat of the

army and
some one

all

its

stores to the Austrians without leaving

Vilna or Minsk to correct their

and omissions. THe~FrencIi were unanimous in
charging Schwarzenberg with treachery, though Napoleon
in authority at

errors

himself held his peace

perhaps

out of policy, perhaps

because he had not looked for any greater degree of zeal

from his Austrian ally.

Napoleon endeavoured

to

check the general demoraliza-

XArOLEOX

156
tion

and despondency.

said,

he bitterly bewailed the

in

public he

we have already

In private, as

assumed a

everyone should keep

RUSSIA

IN

his

of his troops, but

sufferinijjs

tranciuil air,

and gave orders that

proper place

in

the ranks.

Fail-

ing obedience, he ordered that "officers be reduced to the

ranks,

and

soldiers shcjt."

ineffectual, for

llircat j^roved

Ikit this

entirely

the soldiers were naturally less afraid of

death than of the prolongation of such a state of miser}'.

At Orcha Najjolcon burned

hands

in

order to prevent

it

his

from

baggage with

his

own

falling into the clutches

Thus perished the documents which he

for the history of his own life, with the com-

of the enemy.

had collected

which

he had intended to occupy himself

position

of

when he

started on this campaign.

He

then counted upon

establishing himself in a threatening position on the banks

of the Dvina or Beresina, and during the six tedious months

of winter devoting his leisure hours to writing his reminisAll these plans and hopes were

cences.

now

scattered to

the winds.

rumour gained currency that Chichagof had occupied

Minsk, and that the

line of retreat

The Emperor, however,

report,

for

wasthcrefore endangered.

attached

little

he was convinced that

passage of the Beresina at Borisof

importance to the

he

The

commanded

the

bridge at Borisof

was protected by a strong iortress occupied by a Polish

Napoleon was so confident upon this point that
regiment.
in order to relieve the burdens of the army, he gave orders
It must indeed have
at Orcha to burn all his pontoons.
been a blow to learn after this that Chi chagof h ad taken
the town of l-Jorisof, which coinmanflcd the passage of the
river.

There

is

an interesting description of the arrival of an

officer of the Youn''"

Guard who brouirht

this

unwelcome

NAPOLKON
news

"

On November

high-road

26

in the direction

157

we were marching along the

The town was not

of Borisof.

Bonaparte was w^alking, Hkc the rest of us, with a

He was dressed in a fur-coat and hat,
and was walking along the middle of the road a few paces
from me, behind the Prince of Neufchatel (Berthier). On
every side reigned a melancholy silence. Suddenly we
saw an officer riding to meet us. It was Colonel de F.,
far off.

stick in his hand.

attached to the

He

staff.

halted

front of the Prince

in

and made a report of something to him I only heard

Beresina and Russians.' We all stopped.
the words
Bonaparte also halted he w^as about six paces from the
Chief of the Staff and the colonel.
I moved
a little
closer in order to learn what it was all about,
I
could
hear Bonaparte asking angrily,
What is he talking
'

'

'

'

about

eh

talking about
"

The

What

he talking about

is

What

he

is

Prince ordered the colonel to repeat his message

seem

them even now.

Marechal has sent me to inform
you that the Russian army of Moldavia has reached the
Beresina and occupied all the crossings.'
to Bonaparte.
'^

De

F.

to hear

le

not
not
not true!'

De F.
That two divisions of the enemy have captured

^'Bonaparte.
"

'Monsieur
'

It's

true,

the bridge and occupied the

is

true,

it's

it's

'

left

bank

^^

Bonaparte (angrily).

"

De

'You

ascertain the position of the

sent

lie,

you

F. (coldly, in a louder tone).

me

to bring this

enemy.
and

report,

also that the river

not frozen sufficiently to cross on the

ice.'

lie!

It's

not

true.'

was not sent to

Monsieur le Marechal

am

performing

my

duty.'

Seeing Napoleon beginning to brandish his

thought he meant to strike the colonel with it
"

stick,
;

but at

XArOLEOX

158

moment he

RUSSIA

IX

spread wide
and
grinding
his
apart.
Leaning his left hand on
teeth together, he cast a furious glance at the heavens and
A cry of passionate anger broke from his
shook his fist
lips; he repeated his menacing gesture, and added one short
expressive word a word blasphemous enough by itself.
m>- life I never saw a more fearful
I assure )'ou that in all
lie was evidently quite
expression of face and figure!
forgetful of the care with which he had striven till then to
hide his feelings from us, and his endeavours to appear
though, of course, no one was deceived. We
cheerful
were so attentively engaged in watching his movements,
that

stepped back with his

Ici^s

his stick

and were so much surprised

recollected ourselves at last

at

the scene, that

when he gave orders

we only

to continue

the advance."

That night," says Segur, " Napoleon had no sleep.

Duroc and Daru, thinkingTle was asleep, began to talk of
the desperate position in which the French were placed,
unaware that he could hear all they said. When they
uttered the words royal prisoner he could keep silence
no longer, but broke in, Do you think that they would
"

'

'

'

Daru, after the

dare?'
that

if

first

moment

of surprise, replied

must
must not count on the

the lunperor was obliged to yield at last he

be prepared

for the

magnanimity of

worst

that he

his adversar}', for

politics, in

the widest

knew nothing of the ethics of everj-day

life, they have their own code."
'"And h^-ance?' asked Napoleon. 'What will France

sense of the word,

sayr?
"

'

Oh

one ma)- fit one's conjectures to

would be hard to say what the result will
The best thing,' added Daru, both
really be in France.
would be if you could someMajesty,
your
us
and
for
for
'

as for h^'ancc

one's fancy, for

it

'

NAPOLEON
how

159

get back into France, through the

along the road

by being

there,

'" In fact,

air. if it

you would be more

than by staying here.'
for

am

in

may

not be

likely to save us

the wa}'?' asked Napoleon.

'"Yes, your Majest)-.'

"
"

be

'

And would

Daru answered

satisfied to
"

not you like to be a royal jDrisoner

To

in

the

same jesting

strain that

'

he would

be an ordinary prisoner of war.'

this the

pause he asked

Emperor made no
if all

reply

but after a long

the despatches had been burnt.

Your Majesty did not wish that to be done ?

"'Go at once and burn everything our position,
"
frank, is not one to boast of
"

'

Marshal

St.

Cyr received

Russians overThe

river.

He

orders

strict

performed

to be

drive

to

this task

the

but the

problem how the French army was to cross under the

enemy's fire without any pontoons still remained unsolved,
and troubled the minds of every soldier from the highest
to the lowest.

There was no longer any hope that the fugitives would

be able to slip through between the Russian armies.
Driven on by Kutuzof and Vittgenstein to the Beresina,
they must cross the river without delay in spite of the
threatening position occupied by Chichagof on the further

bank.

On November

2^ Napoleon began his preparations for

this desperate step.

command

The remains

of the cavalr}', under the

of Latour-Maubourg, were rapidly dwindling in

number, and there were irow only 150

collected

all

the officers

and formed them

his
this

who

could

left.

still

sit

The Emperor
in

the saddle

body of some 500, which he called

" Holy Squadron."
Divisional commanders acted in
squadron as Captains Grouchy and Sebastiani were
into a

XAPOLKON

l6o

IX

RTSSIA

commanders. Napoleon furtlier ordered that

superfluous vehicles should be burnt, and that no officer

appointed
all

should

have more than one

wagons

in

distributed

The

so that half the vans

and

the various corps were destroyed, and the horses

among

the Morse Guards.

retreating host soon

came

uj)

with

army, which was awaiting Napoleon's

Mar shal

V ictor's

arrival.

"Still in good condition, having .suffered but little, it

welcomed the lunperor with the usual enthusiastic cries,
which had long been unheard among the fugitives from
Moscow," says Segur. " These troops knew nothing of the
sufferings of the main army, so that they were perfectly
astounded when, in the place of the well-appointed columns
of the victors of Moscow, they saw Napoleon followed by
this rabble of skeletons, clad in tatters, in women's jackets,
in

fragments of old carpets or

filthy

cloaks, burnt into holes, with their

manner of scraps and

The

remnants of rusty

legs

wrapped

in

all

gazed in
horror on these unfortunate warriors, their sunken cheeks,
rags.

real soldiers

the earthy colour of their countenances, their straggling

beards; defenceless, weaponless, jostling one another like

a herd of cattle, their heads hanging

down and

their eyes

What astonished them more than

was the number of generals and colonels,
marching by themselves, in solitary dejection, with no

cast upon the ground.

anything

soldiers to

command.

Busied only with themselves, their

persons, or their goods, they

cared for

among

the

common

marched unnoticed and unsoldiers

soldiers from whom

they no longer looked for obedience, for every

tie

was

broken and every rank levelled by misfortune. Victor's

and Oudinot's troops could not believe their eyes. The
imj^rcssion produced by this fearful debacle had an immediate effect upon the discipline of the 2nd and 9th

NAPOLEON
corps

disorder

soldiers

i6i

showed itself in their ranks the

threw away their muskets and laid hands on
soon

valuable walking-sticks,"

to

The Grande Armce reached the river, and it was decided

make the crossing at Studyanka. The only chance of

success lay in deceiving the Russians as to the place in

which the passage was

to be attempted, for

impossible to effect a crossing by force.

hundred

fore, three

soldiers

it

On

was evidently

the 24th, there-

and a few hundred

fugitives

Ukholda with orders to prepare

were sent down
materials for the construction" ofa bridge, and to make as
the river to

much
siers

noise as possible over

it.

The remains

of the Cuiras-

were sent to the same place by a road that was well

In addition
and this was
most cunning stroke of all the Chief of the Staff
summoned some Jews of the neighbourhood and questioned
them with the greatest show of secrecy as to the fords and
roads leading to Minsk. Then, as if delighted with the
result of his examination, and allowing them to imagine
that in his opinion this was the only way out of his
difficulties, he retained some of the rogues as guides and
In order to make
dismissed the rest beyond his outposts.
certain that they would repeat all they knew, the general
forced them to take an oath that they would meet the
French lower down the Beresina and inform them of the
enemy's movements.
While endeavouring in this way to hoodwink Chichagof,

within sight of the Russians.

the

they

made

all

necessary preparations for the passage of the

Studyanka, The presence, however, of a division

of the enemy on the far side of the river caused them to
doubt seriously whether the Russians would fall into the
They expected every minute that the Russian guns
trap.
river at

would open

fire

on the workmen engaged

in

building the

NAPOLEON

i62

IX

RUSSIA

Even if the enemy had delayed until dawn the

bridge.
work would not have been sufficiently far advanced, anxl
the opposite bank, which was low and marsh}-, was only too
well adapted for opposing the passage.

Napoleon was aware of

this,

and when he

left

Borisof at

ten o'clock in the evening he prepared for the last desperate

stroke.

him

to

He

He

halted with the 6000 Guards which remained

at Staro-Borisof in a

house belonging to Radziwill.

did not go to bed that night, but was continuously on

making inquiries as to the movements of the enem}^ In his anxiety he was haunted by the
idea that the night was drawing to a close and dawn about
His attendants had great difficulty in assuring
to break.
him that this was not the case. He went out to wait in a
little hut on the banks of the river.

the alert, listening and

'

how

we get out of this ? " he said

to the Chief of the Staff, who was continually with him.
In a quiet moment, when Napoleon was sitting in a room of
the hut, they saw the tears rise to his eyes and course down
his pale cheeks, paler now than ever.
The King of Naples openly expressed his doubts as to
the possibility of effecting a crossing, and in the name of
the army begged the Emperor to think of his own safety.
"

Well, Berthier,

shall

There are brave Poles read)' to escort the I'^mperor

will take him up along the l)anks of the Bcresina and
Napoleon hung
will get him to Vilna within five da}'S."
his head in sign of refusal, but said nothing.
Hardly had the first piles of the bridge been dri\cn when
Marshal Ney and the King of Naples came running out of
breath to the Emperor, cr}'ing that the enemy had aban"

they

doned

their position

on the other bank.

Napoleon, beside

himself with delight, and unable to believe his ears, ran to

the river

it

was indeed true!

In

an ecstasy of

jii\',

he

NAPOLEON
cried breathlessly, "

Then

163

have deceived the Admiral

"
!

And the Russians were indeed in the fullest sense of the

word deceived. Their officers did not consider the work
that had been going on at Studyanka for forty-eight hours
as worthy of any attention.
The carelessness and incautiousness of the French served to convince Admiral
Chichagof that they meant to cross lower down the river,
and he accordingly moved the whole of Chapletz's corps,
which was stationed opposite the bridge then in course of
construction at Studyanka, and which could of course see
and hear the work that was proceeding.
Admiral Chichagof was an excellent type of the crafty
courtier.
He liad gained his promotion by the accident of
interest and favour
he was proud, bold, and overbearing.
Most aptly did Krylof characterize him in the fable of the
pike that went mouse-hunting.
The Jews sent out by the
French, and the demonstration at Ukholda, firmly convinced him that the crossing was to be effected below
Studyanka, and in spite of all reports of the progress of the
works at that point, he drew off the whole division to the
very last man.
Napoleon, however firmly he might believe in his lucky
star, could scarcely have counted on such simplicity, and
the French are right in saying that the historian will have
to solve an interesting problem
how was it that a
demoralized and exhausted army, hemmed in on every side
by an enemy incomparably superior in numbers, who
literally had only to put out their hand to seize their prey,
found the way left open before them ?
The Russians
retired
there were no obstacles, and the French army was
allowed to retreat in peace along a route that was neither
burnt nor devastated. Whatever the cause may have been
;

whether

carelessness, misunderstanding, or indolence

NATOLKOX

l64
the

retreatiiii^

arm\-

enemies there was

RUSSIA

IN

owed thanks

to

Heaven

one stupendous

at least

that

among

its

fool.

own

impressions and
Every
stroke of our
Napoleon's
sappers' axes which had been ringing in the adjacent woods
We
for a whole day must have been heard by the enemy.

S^gur graphically describes

his

"

time.

feelings at this

expected that at the first rays of dawn we should see the

Russian battalions and guns drawn up before the frail construction which General I'2blcr had erected, while eight
hours'

No

work were

doubt,

we

still

wanting to complete the

thought, the

enemy

order to train his guns with more

is

bridge.

waiting for daylight

Day

effect.

in

broke, and

our eyes beheld the camp-fires abandoned, the river-bank

and in the
moving away,

deserted,

distance,

on the heights, thirty guns

would have sufficed to demolish

But their artillery was retiring
before our very eyes, moving further and further into the
distance, while ours was at the same time being brought
"

single cannon-ball

our only hope of safety.

into position.

see the end of the long Russian

Horisof
they had but to look round.
column retiring to
An infantry regiment of twelve guns remained, but scattered about, and evidently with no intention of interfering
" I^'ar

with us

away we could

while at the edge of the forest w^e could see a

detachment of Cossacks the rear-guard of Chapletz's

withdrawing so as to leave the road
division, 6000 strong
open to us.
" The French simply could not believe their eyes.
At
cheering
and
clapping
began
last, delirious with joy, they
Rapp and Oudinot ran in to the Emperor
their hands.
'Your Majesty, the enemy have struck their tents and
answered the
Imjjossiblc
abandoned the position!'

'

'

NAPOLEON

165

Emperor; but Ney and Murat in their turn came running

up to confirm the news. Napoleon rushed out of his hut,
looked, and saw the extreme end of Chapletz's cokunn in
full

retreat just disappearing into the woods."

By one

o'clock the Cossacks

had completel>' abandoned

the bank, and the bridge for the passage of the infantry
was finished. Legrand's division immediately crossed with

Napoleon's eyes, to loud cries of " Vive

Napoleon had been hurrying on the work,

artillery before

its

rEmpereur !
and he now

"

assisted the passage of the artillery by his

encouraging words and example of cheerfulness. When
the foremost troops at last reached the further bank, he
could not forbear from crying out " My lucky star, again

my

star

"
!

Chichagof to his first mistake added yet another, into

which no intelligent sergeant-major would have fallen, and
which is really beyond forgiveness. Zemlin lies on the far
side of the river in the middle of an exTSTTsive marsh, over
which passes the Vilna road. The latter is constructed on

causeway of t\venty-two wooden bridges, which the

Russian general could and ought to have burnt before he
Combustible materials had indeed been put under
retired.
thTm for this very purpose, but no one took the trouble to
set fire to them.
If Chichagof_had_been less self-confident
he would at least, in withdrawing to Ukholda, ha\e ensured
the iinpossibility of the passage of the river at Studyanka
by ordering the Vilna road to be destroyed. The French
armY would have been irretrievably lost, and all their
labours and sacrifices at the passage of the Beresina would
have availed them nothing, for the deep marshes which
a

surround Zemlin would inevitably have stopped them.

The crowding,
which took place

jostling, confusion, fighting,

at the

and

killing

passage of the Beresina, according

XAI'OLICON

i66

testimony of those

to the

IN

who

RUSSIA

witnessed

madmen

tlie

scene, defy

no
one was master of himself, a universal frenzy possessed the
whole army. They hewed a passage with their swords or
whatever weapon they possessed, and hurled down every
obstacle in their wa)'.
The word " lCm[)eror," which a
month before had been one to conjure with, had lost its
magic.
C'aulaincourt, the great Master of the Horse, was
hustled and jostled, almost knocked from the saddle, before
he managed with infinite difficulty to get the Emperor's
horses and carriages over.
By the evening the Russian guns fof Witgenstcin's
army) were in position, and opened fire on the masses of
soldiers who covered the banks and the bridges.
It is
difficult, nay impossible, to paint the scenes of horror, of
butchery, which were enacted under the fire of the Russian
batteries.
The terrified troops were so closely huddled and
packed together that every shot told with fearful effect.
W ith the cries of despair which rang out on every side,
with the groans of men and the neighing of horses as they
fell and were trampled under-foot, mingled the ceaseless
description.

All rushed like

for the bridges

shrieking of the cannon-balls, the bt)oming of the guns, the

rain of lead

upon wagons, carriages and

shattered and dispersed, their

adding

to the slaughter.

It

caissons, broken,

fl\'ing si)linters

still

further

was a scene of horror beyond

the i)o\ver of words to paint.

At

last

night put an end to the massacre.

Some

por-

managed to cross the river,

The wIkjIc of General
but the greater part was destro)'ed.
it had
lost its
Tortuneau's dix'ision laid down its arms
tion

of the 9th Arm\' Corps

way, blundered

among

the Russians, and been surrounded.

Marbot declares, but it seems improbable, that the general

was accompanied by a guide from liorisof, who endea-

NAPOLEON
voured to explain with

all

167

the expressiveness at his com-

of them was a Russian camp

did not understand him.
they
interpreter,
no
but, having
lost from 7000 to 8000
French
The result was that the
grave accusation
Napoleon's
men. There is no proof of
"
the commander lost his division
that, to judge by report,
because he took an independent line."
By eight o'clock the next morning the bridge destined
for the horses and wagons was broken, and the baggage
and artillery proceeded to occupy the other bridge. This

mand

that the

was the signal

camp

in front

for a regular battle, in the truest sense of the

word, between the infantry and cavalry. Many fell in this

struggle, and still more at the beginning of the bridge,

where the path was so blocked with the bodies of men and
horses that the troops had literally to pass over heaps of
dead,

The last to cross was

way at the point of the
"

Gerard's division,

who made

their

sword, after clambering over the

pile of corpses which cumbered the road. They had hardly

reached the further shore when the Russians charged down
and the French immediately set the bridge on
after them
;

fire,

thus sacrificing

all

that remained on the

left

bank,

in

order to prevent the Russians from crossing."

Those who had not succeeded in getting across were
mad with terror. Many endeavoured to dash over the
burning bridge, and to avoid being roasted alive were
forced to leap into the river, where they were drowned.

Thousands of

fires

lined

river, tens

of thousands of wretched

preparing

to

die,

without food or

men were dying

men

or

There was

shelter.

nothing but the sound of their moaning to

hosts of

by the
bank of the

the heights occupied

Russians, while in the valley beneath, by the

tell

that these

lay there, still breathing, in the darkness.

NAroLl'XJN

i68

"Much

has been said,' writes Marbot, "of the cHsastcrs

of the Beresina

but no one has

miy,ht liave been avoided

and availed

its cUities

if

itself

men who next

most of them

said that

}'et

the staff had better understood

of the

for the transport of the baL;;L;aL;e

of

RUSSIA

IX

niL;'l"it

of the 27th and 28th

and of

those thousands

all

blocked the wa}' across the

da}'

river.

That night the bridges were enipt}-; not a soul crossed

them, though within a hundred paces one might have seen
by the light of the moon a rabble of more than 50,000 men
of all sorts, stragglers from their own regiments, who went
by the name of broilers.' These men sat calmly by their
enormous fires cooking their supper of horse-flesh, unconscious that the passage of the river must cost many of them
'

their lives

on the following day, while at that very

moment

they might be crossing at their leisure and could cook their

supper

in safety

be wondered

on the other

at, for

no

aide-de-camp from

the

Their conduct

side.

officer

came from

marshals, to warn these poor wretches,

drive
"

them by

Mad

necessary, to

or, if

force to the bridges.

the authorities borrowed a few battalions

Oudinot's corps, or from the Guards,

discipline,

not to

from any one of the

ncn'

staff,

is

the Emperor, no

who

they might easily have forced

In

cross the bridge.

vain did

all

still

these masses to

urge, as

from

maintained

passed the

Head-(}uarters Staff and that of Marshal Oudinot, that the

bridges were lying

should be
I

made

idle,

and that

all

to cross while the

these

unarmed troops

enemy remained

Cjuict.

received only evasive replies, and found m\-sclf referred

from one to another."

The

battle of the Beresina

may be regarded as having

Armee the magnificent

decided the fate of the Grande

It

had once caused Europe to tremble.

has often been said that the destruction of the French

force that

XAPOLEON
army was due

to

169

but, as we have seen, many

The 2nd and 9th Arm)- Corps
though they had to endure much the
main arm}-. The chief cause of the

the cold

other causes were at work.

kept perfect order,

same cold as the

was hunger, followed by rapid and ceaseless
marches and bivouacs without sleep or rest and lastly, the
We must not, however,
cold when it became \er}^ intense.
forget the steadiness and endurance of the Russian troops.
Napoleon and the whole of the French army were
astonished by the fact that at " the great battle," though

debacle

there were hosts of Russians slain there were no prisoners.

As for the horses, they sustained the cold very well so long
as they

and

were fed

and they too perished

chiefly of

hunger

fatigue.

K utuzo

f,

as has been said,

w as

Napoleon's escape from Russia.

not alone responsible for

The Russian Commander-

in-Chief took a thoroughly sound view of the position of

the French

Emperor; and

tions with

one of

in this

connection his conversa-

his prisoners, a

man occupying

a high

branch of the French army, are

told
him that he had thoroughly
Kutuzof
full of interest.
studied Napoleon's character, and was sure that when once
rank

in the administrative

he had crossed the Niemen he would be tempted to extend

" We have given him plenty of

his conquests indefinitely.

space to exhaust and dissipate his army, to give strategy,

famine, and frost free play. What blindness is it that has

prevented Napoleon alone from recognizing the trap that

"
was so evident to everybody else ?

The Field-Marshal expressed astonishment

at the ease

with which Napoleon had been induced to stay in

Moscow

and encouraged in his absurd hopes of concluding an

honourable peace, when he was helplessly caught in the
toils.

XAI'OLKOX

I/O
"

Napoleon's

intcUiLjciicc,"

RUSSIA

IX

he remarked,

"

has deteriorated

It is a j^ity he did not

the whole campaign shows that.
think of going further than Moscow, we would have given

him another 5000

versts to conquer."

lie admitted that

an\-thing

would have been hard

it

more dangerous
in

to

imagine

Xapoleon's

the s[jring.

that the plan did not originate with

he was too

than

Smolensk, covering Poland,

But he was con\inced

original plan of remaining in

and renewing the war

Russia

for

much accustomed

Napoleon himself, for

campaigns to devote

to short

two whole years to the conquest of a single empire. " One

must know but little of Napoleon," said Kutuzof, " to
imagine him capable of the patient execution of an enterprise demanding time, caution, and tedious elaboration of
detail."

"When

left

Field-Marshal," says

the

this

French

he expressed the conviction that Bonaparte would

inevitably be crushed at the passage of the Beresina."

officer, "

--

Beyond
than ever.

It

was a headlong

many

flight in

The

fugitives behaved, in the

literal sense, like wild beasts.

Chichagof, and

became more disastrous

w hich there was no

the Beresina, the retreat

longer an\- pretence of (jrder.

most

Muravyof, Fenschaw,

saw the French

The)- often found them in

others affirm that they

devouring their dead comrades.

outhouses seated round a fire on the bodies of the dead,
When, on
cutting out the best portions to roast and eat.

one occasion, a Russian ofiicer expressed his horror and

replied
with perfect
disgust, one of these cannibals
"
isn't
very
nice,
but at any
stuff
this
course
Of
equanimity,
rate

it's

better than beastly horse-flesh."

In the h(jspital at

want of

tables,

Minsk the

h^rench convalescents, for

played cards on the dead and stiffened

NAPOLEON

171

bodies of their comrades, and the walls of the room were

ornamented with the bodies of the dead dressed in fantastic

costumes and with their faces daubed, by way of jest, with

coal and brick-dust.
Fuel was so scarce that even the Viceroy Eugene, for
instance,

had

to

make

shift

without a

It is

fire.

said that

on one occasion, in order to scrape together a few billets of

wood, his attendants had to remind the Bavarians that
Prince Eugene was married to their king's daughter, and
consequently had a right to command them
To make matters worse, on the far side of the Beresina,
!

and during the

fugitives

came

first

stages of the retreat, the arrival of the

as a complete surprise to the

At

ing-places along the road.

was a supply of

flour for

clusive of the corn

100,000

men

in

100,000

men

the granaries

proportions

halt-

for forty days,

ex-

was meat

for

there

for thirty-six days, unkilled

in still larger

towns and

Vilna, for instance, there

beer and brandy

30,000 pairs of boots

27,000

and an immense quantity of clothing, ammunition,

The
saddler\% harness, and equipments of every kind.
officials, however, having received no instructions, did not
dare to make an immediate distribution of these stores.
rifles,

They waited
fell

into the

so long that the greater part of the supplies

hands of the Russians, who followed close upon

the heels of the French.

Vilna was, like Smolensk, a sort of Promised Land in

Here, they thought, they would

the eyes of the soldiers.

fill at last and enjoy at least some rest

from their flight. But they were disappointed in their
hopes, and forced to continue their flight without a pause.
The town was nothing but a plague-stricken cesspool.
Thousands of corpses lay unburied, simply flung out of the

be able to eat their

NAI'OLl':()\

172

IN

lUSSlA

houses into the jards, where the invah'tis also

a confused mass of sick and dead.

Most of the houses

crammed
left

full

in

all

lonning

the town were turned into hospitals,

of sick and wounded.

As soon as the French

who were Jews, stripped the

Vilna the house-owners,

sick of

Ia\\

their

naked, into the

money and clothes and turned them, stark

The Russian authorities, including

streets.

the Emperor Alexander

and vigorous measures

himself, were obliged to take stern

housing the wounded

for

and

relieving their sufferings.

few miles beyond Vilna

that time covered with

much

a steep hill, which was at

gave the French baggage as

is

It

ice.

trouble as the Ikresina.

forth every effort to

In vain did the horses put

surmount it the French saved hardly

a gun or i)rivate carriage.

At

the foot of the

hill

they

were forced to abandon the whole of the artillery of the

Guard, the Emperor's baggage, and the army treasurechest.

As the troops went by they smashed open the

carriages and took the most valuable of their contents
clothes, furs,

hunger were
luxur\' of

all

Many poor wretches dying of

be seen covered with gold
articles of
kinds were strewn upon the snow. The

and money.
to

plundering was only stopjjcd by the apjx^arance of the

who swooj^ed tlown and seized all the booty that

Cossacks,

remained.
retreat

may

One

of the officers gives us an account of the

from Vilna and of

trust

e)'c-witnesses

this last disaster

which,

if

we

of the scene, might have been

avoided, inasmuch as there was an easy road round the hill.

passed out in silence, leaving the streets covered from

"

We

end to end with

court->-ards, the

soldiers,
galleries,

some

asleep,

some dead.

The

and the steps of the buildings

NAPOLEON

1/3

were covered with them, but none were willing to rise and
follow us, nor even to stir at the summons of their
officers,

We

hill, the ascent of which was

reason of its steepness and
by
rendered quite impracticable
All around lay Napothe ice with which it was covered.
leon's carriages and baggage, which were abandoned at

"

arrived at the foot of a

Vilna, together with the

army

treasure-chest.

"It was decided to entrust the salvage of the Imperial

As there was about five million
treasure to the escort.
francs, principally in silver ecus,

them

random among the

at

they had to distribute

soldiers.

they could not possibly keep up with

Many, seeing that

us,

The

made

free with

which had
been taken from the enemy, and which had no further
interest for the troops, were shamefully thrown away at the
bottom of the hill, as well as the famous cross of Ivan the
Great a trophy which we had set our hearts upon carrying

what had been entrusted to them.

flags

away

The

barians,

Russians,

who

are generally regarded as bar-

subsequently afforded a most noble example of

moderation such as is rarely displayed after victory.

" New-comers kept increasing the number of the plun-

and it was indeed an edifying spectacle to see these

men dying of hunger, and at the same time loaded with

derers,

such quantities of treasure that they could move only with

difficulty.
On every side lay open trunks and broken

Gorgeous gold-embroidered court dresses and rich

were donned by persons of the most repulsive exterior.
Sixty francs were offered for a Napoleon d'or, and ten
crowns was the price of a glass of brandy. One of the

chests.
furs

Grenadiers
sale

who

it

in

was

took

it

my

presence offered a cask of silver coin for

finally

away

bought by one of the principal

in his sledge.

officers,

NAPOLEON

1/4

"All

the

who had

dealers,

were

looted the treasure-

Their conversation turned exclusively on bullion

every one had plenty of silver, and no one

chests.

and

second-hand

turned

soldiers,

selling their plunder to those

RUSSIA

IN

jeweller}'

mere appearance of the

Cossacks was enough to inspire the fugitives with terror?

Is

rifle.

sur[M-ising that the

it

Nor were they long

witness

us

tells

in

coming upon the

that on

scene."

An

eye-

occasion the lust for gold

this

all distinction between the bold and the timorous,

between friend and foe, and that the Cossacks set to
plundering side by side with the French
At this point the most terrible frosts overtook the

abolished

Even the discipline of the Guards was destroyed

and when the drum summoned them to march, this brave
army of tried veterans, the last hope of the arm}-, refused
fugitives.

to leave the camp-fires

and menaces
stir

they

enough
Even

and

fall

Reproaches, entreaties,

iti.

some

sufficed to persuade

were

frost-bitten,

for

them from the

to save

high an

for so

refused to fetch

even the

others did not

fires

were not

cold.

officer

Murat the Grenadiers

as

firewood or snow for water,

lest, as they
nipped on the way."
On one occasion the whole of the 4th Army Corps
refused to move, and it was onl)' b)- the most vigorous

expressed

it,

they should be

persuasion that the

stir

out of the room,

Duke

for

of Neufchatel induced them to

one roomful constituted the whole

of this corps of the Grande

As for the
The result of

"

Armee

was no longer in existence.

the campaign was the complete annihilation
of an army of nearl}' half a million men.
The whole of
tlic artillcr}', consisting of 1200 guns and caissons, fell into
the hands of the enemy, together with many thousands of
wagons and officers' carriages, and an enormous quantity
rear-guard,

it

NAPOLEON
of warlike stores

and

175
xAccording to

provisions.

official

accounts, 253,000 bodies were burnt in the provinces of

Moscow, Vitebsk, and Mohilef, and 53,000 in Vilna and

immediate neighbourhood. More than 100,000 men
were taken prisoners. Within historical memory, from the
time of Cambyses to the present day, there is no parallel
its

to such a disaster affecting so great a host.

To
tliat

return once
after

thought

how

army, and
with

more

to

Napoleon

should be said

it

the passage of the Beresina he had but one

if

best

return to

to

France, collect a fresh

he could not induce his

any

him, at

rate

prevent them

joining forces against him.

keep faith
from immediately

allies to

His intention of leaving the

Paris was kept a profound

army and proceeding direct to

secret, although some of those

nearest to him knew, and

most part approved, the plan. They saw, in fact,
no hope of rescue except in the organization of a new
army of half a million men.
For some time previous to the Emperor's departure
for the

from the army

even privation.

he, too, suffered

The

extreme discomfort and

soldiers occupied filthy, foul-smelling

huts close to his head-quarters, and

was necessary to use

for Napoleon at
this time consisted of black rye loaves
the meal was
badly ground, the dough had hardly risen, in addition to
which it had a disagreeable musty smell.
In the little town of Zanifka the head-quarters were
established in a small, two-roomed hut.
The back room
was occupied by Napoleon, the front apartment by his
force to repel them.

it

The bread baked

suite,

who

disposed themselves for sleep packed side by

side so closely that the Emperor's valet could

treading on

Emperor was

their

legs

and

arms.

not avoid

At Smorgoni

the
stationed at head-quarters for the last time.

XATOLKOX

1/6
lie there
bulletin,

glaring

IX

RUSSIA

made his final arrangements, and wrote his last

Xo. XXIX., filled, as usual, with half-truths and

falsehoods.

In

this

bulletin

he attributed

his

disasters to fortuitous circumstances, explaining that they

might soon be repaired by vigorous action.

" More than 30,000 horses," he sa)'s, " fell within a few
days.
Our cavalry had no mounts, our artiller)' and
transport had no beasts of draught.
We had to abandon
or destroy a large number of our guns with their appurten-

The enemy, coming upon

ances.

army, were encouraged

who

to

these traces of the French

surround

our columns with

wagons
This wretched {iiicprisable)
Arabs in the desert.
cavalry, whose strength lies in noise alone, and which
could not seriously attack a company of riflemen, was
However, we
rendered formidable by circumstances.
Cossacks,

cut off

all

straggling baggage and

like

enemy

caused the

serious attempt they

Horses and necessaries of every
General
are beginning to pour in.

to regret every

..."

made

against us."

sort,"

he continues,

"

Boursier has more than 20,000 horses in various depots.

The

artillery

has already repaired

Every precaution was taken

all its losses."

to prevent

of Xapoleon's intention of leaving the

any knowledge

army from leaking

out until the last moment.

But the presentiment of the

was in the minds of every member of his
every one wished to accompany him and escape

coming
suite

from
"

disaster

this living hell as

In

the

quickly as possible.

evening the chief

officers

of the arm)- were

summoned together," says Segur. The marshals appeared.

As they entered Napoleon took each of them aside and
"

revealed

his

project,

sparing neither arguments nor ex-

pressions of confidence and affection.

"

When

he caufjht sight of Uavout he went to meet

At a CoixciL

01--

War.

NAPOLEON

177

Why

him, and asked whether he was vexed with him.

To the Marshal's reply that
did he not see more of him ?

he seemed to have fallen under his displeasure, Napoleon,

accepting

his

all

explanations, expounded

detail

in

his

intention of departing, and indicated the direction of his

He was

route.

praised

all

for

easier,

their

admirable conduct

At

all.

in

table he

the course of

As for himself,' he said, it would have

no doubt, to avoid mistakes, had I been a

the campaign.

been

genial and affectionate to

'

'

Bourbon.'
"

When

dinner was over Napoleon told Prince Eugene to

publicly what he
That night he would
leave with Duroc, Caulaincourt, and Lobau for Paris, where
his presence was essential both for France and for the
remains of the army. Only from Paris could he keep his
thumb on the Austrians and Prussians, who would no
doubt hesitate to declare war against him if they saw that
he was once more at the head of the French nation, and an

read out Despatch

XXIX., and explained

had before spoken of

army
"

in confidence.

of a million soldiers!

He

was handing over the chief command

King of Naples.
hope,' he added, that you
I
obey him as myself, and that there will be no differences
stated that he

to the
will

among

you.'

Nobody, of course,
Berthier,

without

raised

any opposition.

endeavouring

to

dissuade

merely announced that he must be included

of those

who were

Marshal
Napoleon,

in the

number

This request drew upon him a

going.

Napoleon loaded him with reproaches

reminded him of all the kindnesses and benefits he had received at his hands, and finally
called upon him to change his mind and submit, or return
at once to his estate in France and await the announceN

ver)' severe rebuke.

for preferring

such a claim

'

'

'

i/S

X.\1'0L1<:0\

mcnt of

his

punishment

RUSSIA

I\

for rcbcHiiiL; against the will of the

I'^ini^cror.

At

ten o'clock that evening;- he shook hands with them,

kissed

two

them

lines

all in turn, and issued at the front door between

formed by the officers of his suite, smilint; [pitiful

forced smiles to the

ri^dit and left.

Napoleon and Caulaincourt i;ot into a covered sledge, on
the box of which sat Roustan, the Mameluke, and a Polish
officer, who was to be his driver.
Duroc and Lobau followed in open sledges.
As soon as the news of the Emperor's departure spread

through the army, the

Groups of armed

last traces

of discipline disappeared.

had

now been gathered round

soldiers

the colours; but even

they dispersed at

last,

hiding the

Napoleon alone was able

eagles in their valises.

any semblance of order

tain

till

to

main-

with his disappearance, Murat

and the other officers lost all authorit)-.

" An hour after the Emperor's departure," says an eyewitness, " one of the senior officers turned to another with
the words, 'Well, has the ruffian gone?'
"

'

Yes,' replied the other

trick as in Egypt.'

*
;

he

lias

played us the same

"

Napoleon, after barely escaping caj)ture at the hands of

that only by the
most remarkable good fortune, arrived at Warsaw. WHien

the free-lance .Seslavin's Cossacks, and

he had somewhat recovered from the fatigues of his journey,

he gave the following explanation of the disastrous issue of
the campaign
said,

of

"When

left

Paris

it

was

my

intention," he

"to carry the war no further than the former confines

i\)lan(l.

Circumstances drew

me

guilty of an error in going so far as

wrong

in

staying there so

sublime to the ridiculous

is

lon;^ as

Perhaps

on.

Moscow, perhaps
I

did

I
I

was
was

but from the

but a step, and postcrit\ shall

NAPOLEON
be

my

judge

My French

soldiers,"

them

1/9

he added,

"

are worth-

mere dummies.
" During the retreat I had no cavalry, and I must admit
that when the Cossacks attacked my column I found myself
in a dilemma.
It was impossible to mass the army together,
it was equally imfor that would have retarded the retreat
possible to deploy it, for the Cossacks would have broken
less In the trost, the cold turns

into

line.
We were obliged to continue our retreat,
up the gaps, and deceive the enemy, I confess that I
needed all my skill and experience to escape."
He did indeed escape, but with this campaign began the

through our

to

fill

decline of his power.

II

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

The

restoration of

tlic

kingdom

Poland and the abolition of

serfdom were among the pretexts
put forward by Napoleon for his
of

The proposed

invasion of Russia.
liberation

Vasiily h/ajiiuii

liberty for

its

ule

sake,

people ready to throw off

exj^ected to find in Russia a

its fetters,

least his estimate of the social

correct.

The masses were

and

and

to

some extent

to

situation

political

at

was

ardently longing for freedom, and

the idea of enfranchisement was in the air

failed

pre-

sumably intended merely to embarrass his ad\ersar\', for Napoleon

can scarcely be credited with any
sentimental weakness in favour of

atludial.

own

of the serfs was

but Napoleon

recognize that the means whicli he employed,

instead of encouraging the people to revolt against their

masters, were calculated

merely to turn them into

There were, it is

concilable enemies of the invader.

some disturbances and

irre-

true,

seditious plots at the beginning of

the campaign, but they were comparatively insignificant

the excesses of the French, and especially of their allies

Germans,

Poles,

Italians,

and others
kSo

soon

provoked a

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

i8i

The announce-

wide-spread revulsion of public opinion.

ment that the provinces occupied by the Grande Armee

would be retained by France, and that the nobility and
would, under

officials

no circumstances, be allowed to

encouraged the peasantry in some districts to assist

In many instances,
in provisioning the invading army.
against their
revolt
open
however, they broke out into
masters, and refused to assist their escape by supplying
return,

them with
horses to

coming

Why," they asked, " should we lend

remove our masters' goods, when Bonaparte is
horses.

"

to set us free?j^

the gentry, some, like Engelgard, behaved as true

Of

patriots,

remaining on their

estates, harassing the

French

to

the utmost of their power, and frequently meeting death in

On

we find
from
the
Honour
Prince Bagration tearing the Cross of
neck of a certain dignitary, and branding him as a traitor
the service of their country.

the other hand,

Again, in the captured

to serve his sovereign.
barouche of the French General Montbrun a note was found,

unworthy

among

other papers, giving information as to the plan of a

proposed Russian attack.

bility,

This note was,

delivered to the general

by an

officer

in

all

proba-

attached to the

Russian head-quarters.

The behaviour of the clergy was, in some

ordinary.
The Bishop of Mogileff and the

cases, extra-

ecclesiastical

dignitaries of Vitebsk in so far admitted that the conquered

provinces no longer belonged to Russia as to swear allegi-

ance to Napoleon, and issue an order to the priests directing

them

to take the

same

oath, and, in the public prayers

in their churches, to substitute

that of Alexander.^
^

"

I,

the

name

of Napoleon for

Following the example of the Bishop,

God to be faithful to the

Majesty the French Emperor

the undersigned, swear by Almighty

Government appointed by

his Imperial

NAPOLICOX

i82

the priest Dobrovolsky, and

RUSSIA

IX

many

Holy Mass or

others, in

Tc Dennis, omitted to mention any member of the

Russian Imperial l^'amil)-, while prayin<^ for the health of
Napoleon, Emperor of the French and YJ\x\<g of Ital}'.
After the departure of the French many proceedings
were instituted in res[)ect of seditious acts among the
Archbishop Theofiecclesiastical and
civil authorities.
lakt, who was sent to restore ecclesiastical order in the
provinces, wrote to the Minister
" In the civil departments it is necessary to shut one's eyes, for the civil
governor. Count Tolstoi, knowing full well who the traitors

the

obliged to retain them in the service."

are, is nevertheless
It

Davout entered

interesting to learn that Marshal

is

Archbishop of Mogileff.
He urged upon the Archbishop that, having accepted
the fait accompli, he was bound to mention the name of
Napoleon in public j:)rayer, quoting the words of the
into a doctrinal discussion with the

Gospel

"That

"

Render unto Caesar the things that are Ca,\sar's."

exactly what I am doing," answered the Arch-

is

name

bishop, " mentioning the

"

By no

means,"

of

my own

Davout.

replied

"

By

sovereign."

Caesar

we must

at the present moment, the

Emperor Alexander."
fact that there was discontent

understand the stronger, and,

stronger
^'

There

among

certainl\- not j-our

is

is

the

no denying the

people," says A. F. de B., an officer in the

Russian service, "and the further the enemy advanced, the

more this discontent spread. The attitude of the people
was extremely doubtful, but it was Napoleon himself, or
rather

his

troops,

who

contributed

most

to destro)'

the

confidence of the peasantry in the sincerit)- of his promise.s.

and the
iliat

Kini; of Italy,

these orders be

Napoleon,

fulfilleil l)v

to fulfil all his orders,

others."

and

to

ensure

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

Rumours soon began
pkmdering

all

along the

to

spread

line of

the

that

march

183

enemy were

that they were turn-

ing the churches into stables, trampling the holy images

under-foot or chopping them up for firewood

were

ill-treating the

inhabitants,

)'Oung children, suffering

women,

their hands.

at

that they

and even
Small wonder

girls,

that the peasants betook themselves to the woods, taking

with them everything they could

carr}-,

and burning what-

ever they were unable to remove/^

iThe

committed by the French in other counbut they were surpassed in

this campaign.
Many Frenchmen, eye-witnesses of what
they relate, give harrowing details of the wanton destruction and rapine that marked the advance of the invading
atrocities

tries are sufficientl)- notorious,

army.

Labaume

gives

some instances of barbarous

tion of private property.

large domain, called

"

We

viola-

entered," he says, " into a

Vedenskoye, a charming estate with

a mansion beautifully appointed within and without.

a few minutes everything

On

was broken or torn

In

in pieces."

we stopped at a large
house with a beautiful garden. Apparently the place had
been but recently furnished, but it was now dismantled
in
a most painful manner.
Broken furniture was
"

another occasion," he says,

scattered about the passages

expensive

pictures,

torn

out

"

fragments of china and

of

their

were

frames,

scattered to the wind s."]

Bourgeois tells us that " the inhabitants, driven b\- fire

out of their homes, took shelter wherever they could.

Sometimes they sought refuge among the inhuman

who plundered them to the last extremit)'.
The
women were seized and exposed to every kind of insult.
Even the dead were disinterred, in the search for hidden
soldiery,

treasure.

It is

not surprising, therefore, that the Russians

NAPOIJ-:()\

i84

themselves set

fire

U) their

with nothing but

villaL^es

IX

RUSSIA

homes, and
in

ashes,

tliat

and

the I-'rench

wells

filled

met
with

carrion."

We

kiK^w

how nobly

the populace of

Moscow

rcsj^onded

Emperor. The gentry provided

and the merchants large sums of

appeal of their

to the

numerous

\-olunteers,

Some of the volunteers, it is

money was not all collected

monc)'.

true, arri\-ed too late,

and the
until 1819, and, even
then, under considerable pressure.
But the spirit that
animated the people was none the less heroic. The

Moscow

inhabitants of

resolutely refused to entertain the

making any concessions

idea of

to the invader, and, with

a few insignificant exceptions, were true to their duty as

pat riots.

How

'

French army found Moscow

and merchandise of all
descriptions? The explanation is simple. When Najwleon
won the battle of Borodino, Kutuzof saw clearly that he
could do nothing more at the moment, and that he could
not venture to fight another battle under the walls of
Moscow. Nevertheless, he led the Governor-General of the
city, Count Rostopchin, to believe that he was preparing
to assist him with his army, and the latter, trusting in this,
and unwilling to alarm the inhabitants, made few preparations for retreat, sending away only the most precious
He did not even
objects and the treasures of the Tsars.
filled

was

with

it,

then, that the

provisions,

At the

touch the arsenal.

of the

enemy was

wealth,

last

inevitable,

moment, when the

entr)'

and Rostopchin recognized

that the Russian general was concealing his real plans, he

tried to hide

the whole

what was left; but horses were scarce, and

abandoned by its inhabitants, remained

city,

w'ith the greater part

enemy.

of

its

wealth at the discretion of the

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

The

dissensions between the two commanders, at

Rostopchin made an exhibition of his

was compelled
nevertheless,
it

remain

to

for,

silent

first

While
patriotism, Kutuzof

open rupture.

restrained, soon developed into an

city,

185

but he suffered keenh'

although he decided to sacrifice the sacred

was only because he saw the impossibility of

defending

it.

In spite of the field-da)- opinions of such generals as

Beningsen, Ermolov, and others, the

thought, with Barclay, that
like

any other

such a step.

show of

city

He

if

Moscow

"

old

fox

"

Kutuzof

"should be sacrificed

the safety of the

Empire demanded
make some

authorized Miloradovitch to

resistance merely with the object of satisfying the

inhabitants, but
courtier of Paul

he
I.,

resolutcl)'

kept

at arm's length

Rostopchin, the old

from his councils.

The

Kutuzof "an old one-eyed

Baba" (peasant woman), and wrote to him " It rests with
you to decide whether I shall act with you before Moscow,
or without \-ou in Moscow."
The " Baba," who had no great opinion of the armed
mob which Rostopchin offered to place at his disposal,
replied onl)- with a demand for provisions, and did not

latter did not hesitate to call

even invite the commandant of Moscow to attend the

Council of War at which the retreat of the Russian armies
was decided upon.
" When the masters are fi ghting," says a proverb of
Southern Russia, "the peasant's head is aching."
The
truth of this adage was now bitterly felt b\- the inhabitants

of Moscow.

was owing to the quarrels of their leaders

by the French.
Rostopchin had just sufficient time, putting a good face
on the trick played upon him b\' Kutuzof, to open the gates
of the arsenal to the public, empty the numerous barrels of
It

that the}' were surprised

NArOLEOX

86

vodka

into the street, and,

with his wife and

opposed

departure.

his

governor's

palace,

To

Napoleon.

most

RUSSIA

difficult

of

all,

to escape

had armed, and who were

which have become legendary,

he

his " placards,"

b\-

IX

faniil\-.

The populace which

excited

and

save

They gathered in
demanded to be
Rostopchin

himself,

front of the
led
hit

against

upon the

idea of throwing a victim to the mob, as to a pack of

famished wolves.
person

He

promptly found a scapegoat

of Verestchagin,

the

son

of a

in the

merchant.

The

victim was accused of having translated an article relating

to

Napoleon, and Rostopchin handed him over to the

as " the wretch through

mob

whom Moscow

and Russia would

perish."
As no hand was raised to execute justice on this
so-called traitor
a pale, dehcate young man
the GovernorGeneral ordered a dragoon to cut him down. At the sight
of blood the passions of the mob broke loose. Verestchagin was fastened to the tail of a horse and dragged

through the

streets,

while the Governor-General escaped by

the back door and fled the

after

cit)'.

The body

of the victim,

being dragged through the market-place, was dropped

in front

of a small church, and was buried at the very spot

Some time later, when the Sophiyaka

was opened, the bod)- was found intact, and was
believed by many to be that of a holy mart\'r.
Although the Emperor Alexander had, since the battle
of Austerlitz, been prejudiced against Kutuzof fa feeling,
by the way, by no means justified, inasmuch as that
general had only carried out the plan drawn up by the
head of the Austrian chief staff, W'einrotter, and approved
b\' both Emperors) he placed him at the moment of
danger in command of his armies. This appointment was
on which

it

fell.

Street

demanded

b\'

pul)lic opinion.

Armed Peasant.

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

On

command, Kutuzof did

taking over the

reanimate

the

courage of

his

187
his best to

whom

upon

troops,

the

constant retreat before the invader had necessarily had a

depressing
In

The

some

effect.

quarters, however, he

gallant

was by no means

garded Kutuzof as "a scoundrel ready to

As

a matter of fact,

long as

sell

battle,

re-

his country."

Kutuzof had but one idea

Napoleon, and, by avoiding a pitched

stay as

trusted.

but irascible Bagration asserted that he

to deceive

cause him to

Moscow.

If he could be
tempted to remain in the city until the winter time,
Kutuzof hoped to be able to block up the road to the
southern provinces, throwing Napoleon back on to the
route which he had already traversed
a devastated line of

possible

in

march.

The

plan succeeded, and

to pursue
patriot,

Napoleon,

he thought

it

it

if Kutuzof subsequentl)' failed

was because, as a Russian and a

sufficient to drive the invader

the country, and did not care to be

of Europe.

This

is

mixed up

from

the affairs

in

evident from the reports of the English

military attache, Wilson, which are nothing

long and violent diatribe against the

"

more than a
Kutuzof

traitor "

After the retreat had been decidsd upon by the Council

Russian troops began to move through the

town towards the Kiazan road. Glinka saw Kutuzof
sitting in a dros/ikv\\Q3.\- the town gate lost in deep thought.
Colonel Toll approached him and reported that the French
had already entered Moscow. " Thanks be to God,"
answered Kutuzof, "this is their last triumph."
The

at Filli, the

regiments moved slowly past the general,

who was

sitting

motionless, his right elbow resting on his knee, apparently-

seeing and hearing nothing.

disorder

luggage-carts were

The

troops were

colliding

in

\-arious

great

detach

XAPOLKOX

i88

IX

RUSSIA

mcnts were seekini;" their respective rei;iment.s

private
were seizins; the opportuiiit)' to plunder.
The
;

soldiers

people surrounded

the

transport

containing

train

the

wounded, and kind-hearted women threw money into the

carts, forgetful that the copper coins might seriously hurt
the sufferers.
this

If at

time Napoleon had sent a few regiments of

cavalry against

the

retreating

Russians he could easily

have destroyed the rear-guard.

But

other matters to think about.

He was

at this

time he had

standing behind

the Dorogomilovsky gate waiting for a deputation from

He

Moscow.

had summoned

chief of police,

Rostopchin

this canaille of a

to appear before him, together with the

commandant, the

and the mayor, but no one came.

Kutuzof, having enticed him into Moscow, turned aside,

and, without leaving any trace behind, succeeded in completely hoodwinking his enemy.
While Napoleon was
announcing to Europe that the Russians were fleeing in
disorder along the Kazan road, Kutuzof suddenly turned
off this road on to the Kaluga road, and placed himself in position to protect the fertile provinces that had
not yet been touched by the in\aders.
Whose idea
this was is not known, but it was a \'er)' happy one,

of results

full

advantageous

to the

Russians

and

ruinous to the Fren:h.

Meantime complete confusion reigned

Of

in

Moscow.

the well-to-do only those remained in the city who,

rel)-ing

upon

Rostopchin's

rcmoN'cd their wealth.

who

])roclamations,

In addition to these

remained; perhaps to

fish in

had not
and others

troubled waters, there

was the vast army of beggars and

criminals.

The

Postmaster-General, Klucharcff, susj)ected of being a

freethinker,

was banished

}'oung Vcrestchagin, as

we have

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

189

was murdered, and an ex-student, Uroosoff, who tried

to show that Napoleon's invasion was a good thing, was
first imprisoned and then banished.
When the order directing the broaching of wine and
spirit casks was issued, the people fell to work at once, and
seen,

Wine and spirits literally flowed

and the mob, lying on the pavement yelling
and fighting, lapped up the liquor from the gutters.
" My father was an obstinate man," says the wife of

soon became intoxicated.

in the streets,

a citizen.

"'I
"

not

will

account

there

Arms were

a gun, but

it

the

leave
is

no reason

he

city,'

to

on no

'no,

said,

be afraid of the French.'

and he received

distributed in the Kremlin,

was without a hammer.

"'Never mind,' he said, 'although it is out of order, it

prove handy to frighten a Frenchman with.
" When we reached the stone bridge there was a crowd
of about a hundred men, and a regiment of the enemy was
marching across. Father took it into his head to threaten
them with his gun, but one of the soldiers snatched it out
of his hands, and with the butt-end hit my father a blow on
the back of his head that caused blood to flow."
" I was sitting at a window knitting a stocking," says the

may

'

"

wife of a priest,

running up.

'

when suddenly

Mother,' said she,

'

the deacon's wife

they say that

"

came

Bonaparte

has passed through the gates of Dorogomilovsk and Kaluga."

I

dropped

room

writing.

matter

is

and called aloud

My husband was sitting

stocking

the

Vlasich, do you hear

'

'

What

is

the matter

that the deacon's wife tells

He

'

'

Dmitry

in

another

he asked.

me

'

The

that Bonaparte

What

has come,'

woman you

are to believe the deacon's wife rather than the

answered.

Governor-General.

There

is

laughed.

the

'

Count's

foolish

proclamation,

XAPOLKOX

190

have

not read

it

you

to

IX

RUSSIA

You had

better

go and

cjrder

the tea.]J>
"

Later," says the

same

authority, "

we

sent the cook to

the bazaar to do her marketin;4, and she took with her

cousin, Sidor Karpowitch.

The

and a good wooden spoon.

said,

'

to lay in

my

several casks of

'

latter

was

have a great mind,' he

stock of honey, as

They found

it.'

my

carrying; a pot

know

there are

the bazaar empt}', but

from time to time a Russian, or one of the enemy, passed

The cook went for her sugar and tea, and he for his
by.
When you are ready,' he said, wait for me, I
honey.
'

'

soon find what

shall

want.'

She put

tea

and sugar

into

her napkin and waited for her companion, but for some

So she took refuge in a shop and

Suddenly she heard Sidor call, Anicipigeon, w here are you ?
She stept outside

time no one appeared.

said her [prayers.

oushka,

my

'

'

and stood spell-bound with fear all the shops were empt)',
but coming towards her was a man no, not a man
monster. She could not make <>ul what it was. When,
however, it came closer, and she discoxcrcd what it was,
There
she thought she must ha\e died with laughter.
stood Sidor dripping with honey from head to foot. On his
head one might have thought he wore a hood of the face
;

there was not a trace.

when he began to fill his pot

with hone}', three men came up and said, (jive up }-our
He refused. Wh}-,' he said, did you come emptypot
Sidor
repeated.
the\Give up the pot
handed ?

"The

victim explained that

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Karpowitch clutched his pot tightly, and made off, but he

was soon overtaken. His |)ursuers snatched the pot out
of his hands, and threw him into the cask, head downwards.
was stifled I began to wriggle and
I
saw nothing
I
managed to raise m}' head. Ikit then my feet sank in my
'

THE BURxNIXG OF MOSCOW

nose, eyes, mouth, were

all

covered with honey.

191
I

do not

know how long my martyrdom lasted, but at last I

Then I summoned up
that I was growing giddy.

my

felt
all

courage, caught hold of the

pulled myself out

'

edge of the cask, and

Later, many years later," adds the

we could never think of this incident without

laughing.
The wife of the sexton, who is fond of her joke,
says, whenever she sees my cousin, Will }-ou not take some
Matouschka,

"

'

honey, Sidor Karpowitch, \-ou are so very fond of

you not

Long

it,

are

'

processions of the citizens of IMoscow, carr}-ing the

sacred ikons and the vessels of the Mass,

left by aU the
lamenting and singing plaintive songs.
legend states that on that terrible day a sword of fire

gates of the

city,

\A
was seen
to

in the heavens at Moscow

a miracle that helped
complete the terror of the few thousands who remained

behind, out of a population of nearh' a third of a million.

Meantime the French were occup}-ing Moscow, spreadKutuzof said, like a sponge in water. Some of
them only passed through the streets and bivouacked in
the suburbs and adjoining villages others, belonging to the
Guard, took up their quarters in the Kremlin itself
ing, as

" We were greatly impressed b)' our

view of Moscow, and our vanguard saluted the
town with transports of enthusiasm, crying, Moscow
^loscow
All ran to the hills and \-ied with each

Labaume

writes

first

'

'

other in discovering and pointing out the beauties of

Houses painted in various colours, domes

iron, silver, and gold
the balconies and
terraces of the palaces, the monuments, and especially
the belfries, combined to realize one of those beautiful _
cities of Asia which we had hitherto supposed to
exist only in the imagination of the Arabian poets/J
the sight.

covered with

XAI'OLI'.ON

192

I\Iil()i-;ul<)\ ilcli,

RUSSIA

IN

who commanded

the Russian rear-guard,

warned Murat against pressing forward too hastily, threatening that if the Russian troops were not allowed to retire
in peace, he would set fire to the cit}'.
The King of
Naples, with the consent of Napoleon, agreed not to harass
the Russian retreat, and the I'rench troops marching

in

the Russians marching out.

mingled with the rear-guard (jf

This gave Murat an opportunity of making a display of
the splendour of his attire before the " barbarians."

n he
the

longer the I'rcnch troops remained

more they were amazed

desolation that reigned on

in

the vast city

at the death-like quiet

all sides.

The

and

strange stillness

caused them involuntarily to keep silence, nervously

listen-

ing to the rumbling clatter of the horses' hoofs on the

Even

pavements.

the bravest were depressed, owing to

was sometimes impossible to

some distance from one another along the same thoroughfare, and
in some instances detachments fled in panic from their

the length of the streets.

It

distinguish the uniforms of troops marching at

own comrades.
The soldier liourgogne
ment

naively e.xpresscs his astonish-

at the aspect of the deserted city.

surprised at seeing no one in

woman

listening to our regimental

the Victory
desolation

!
'

We

"

We were

greatly

the streets, not a single young

band playing

'

Ours

is

could not account for this complete

such a glorious

city,

but

now

so

mute, so

Nothing was to be heard but the

gloomy, and so empty
sound of our own footsteps, drums, and music. Nor, of
We
course, were we ourselves in very talkative humour.
whether
tlie
inwondering
another,
kept looking at one
!

habitants, not daring to

show themselves

in

the streets,

were spying at us through the chinks of the shutters. It

was impossible to imagine that such magnificent palaces

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

193

and such beautiful buildings were abandoned by their

An hour after our entry into the city the fires
began. We, of course, thought that some of our own
people, in plundering, had set fire to the buildings through
owners.

carelessness.

We

could not believe that the inhabit-

ants were so barbarous as to burn their

destroy one of the finest

Labaume

writes

"

In

own

property, and

of the world. 'J

these richly-furnished houses

cities
all

and palaces we found only children, old men, and Russian

officers who had been wounded in previous battles.
In
the churches

all

the altars were decorated as on holy-days

and, judging from

lam.ps

before

number of candles and burning

the holy images, it was evident that just
the

before leaving the city the pious Muscovites had been at

prayer.
These striking testimonies of the citizens' piety

and love of religion raised this conquered people in our

estimation, and made us feel ashamed of the injustice we
had done them. Sometimes, in an involuntary feeling of
fear, we found ourselves listening eagerly, and our imagination, nervously strained in this huge conquered city, caused
us to fear ambuscades on every side, and to imagine that
we heard the clash and sound of arms or the cries of
combatants.
"

humble

officer

found himself sole occupant of a

beautifully-furnished suite of apartments, for no one

was

present but the porter who, with trembling hands, presented

him with the keys of the

Madame

place."

an actress at the French theatre at

Moscow, tells us " I left my lodgings on August 25
(September 6). Passing through the city, I was strongly
impressed by the melancholy of the scene. The streets
were empt}^ but now and then I met a passer-by, one of
the common people.
Suddenly I heard in the distance
Fusil,

NAr()lJ':()\

194

Kl\SSIA

IX

the sounds of nioiirnful singing, and, coming nearer,

a larj^c crowd of men,

I saw
women, and children carrying holy

images and following the priests, who were singing sacred

hymns. It was impossible to witness such a sight without
tears

the

them the
awa)'.

'

the

people leaving the city and carrying

Suddenly

treasures of their faith.

Come and

sk}^,

it

look on this wonderful

like

is

phenomenon

And

!
'

really

something quite out of the common, a sign indeed.

The

may

strength of the h^-cnch

be estimated at about

tion of the Guard, the

and encamped

in the

army

that entered

io,000 men.

French

suburbs

left

The presence

probably accounts

for

in

With

saw
."

Moscow

the excep-

the city the next

day

the Spaniards, Portuguese,

Swiss, Bavarians, Wurtembergers, and

in the city.

in

Surely some great

a fiery sword.

calamity must be about to hap})en

away with
was called

Moscow

Saxons remaining

of the

" alien

element

the extraordinary cruelties perpe-

trated in the city.

Numerous Russian

about the

streets.

Fe/ensac says that he alone stopped

about

and sent them

to

fifty,

whom

reported

not shot them

this

way

this,

to head-quarters.

"

The

general
I had
them in

expressed his regret that

and instructed

all,

roamed

stragglers

me

to dispose of

in future."

Meantime the

fires, far

from subsiding, began to spread

with ever-increasing fury.

"It was horrible," relates the daughter of a merchant.

"The Russians themselves were burning Moscow."

"We

were struck wath terror at seeing fires all round us," says
another witness. " Moscow," says yet another, " was burned
I do not know how it happened,
to drive out Bonaparte.
but one thing is certain, that our house was set on fire."
A drunken man, dressed in a peasant's smock, was seen
leaving the house of Prince Kourakin, the steward and four

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

He

footmen driving him out with blows.

of triumph, exclaiming,

"

How

well

burns

it

195

uttered a shout
"
!

Kourakin's

servants declared that he was an incendiary, and that they

He was

were about to give him up to the French.

at

once

shot
It is

impossible to attribute the burning of

concerted plan.

was due

Moscow

to a

measure to the fact

that a large proportion of the houses were built of wood,
and to the determination of the Russians not to allow their
property to

It

into

fall

in great

the hands of the enemy.

the responsibility was thrown on Rostopchin,

Bagration that

came

the worst

if

Governor caused all fire-extinguishing

removed may suggest the theory that
the city was due to the action of the
But subsequent inquiries demonstrated
tion was, in the main, accidental,
" It is

he says
suffer

in

everything perish

fall
"

The

was

fact that the

appliances

be

to

the destruction of

Governor-General.
that the conflagra-

and Rostopchin himself

a trait in the Russian character,"

Explanation^

his

anything to

first

assured

to the worst he

resolved to reduce the city to ashes.

confirms this idea.

At

who

" to

into the

destroy rather than to

hands of the enem}-.

Let

After Napoleon and his army occupied

the city, several generals and officers visited the principal

carriage-manufactories. Each selected a carriage and wrote
his

name upon

it.

The merchants,

to their shops that they

of one accord, set

might not become " purveyors

fire
"

to

the enemy.

On

the other hand, the French officers

seem to have
was a source
of no little vexation.
Segur states that a number of officers
took refuge in the halls of the Palace. Other generals,
among them Mortier, who had been fighting the flames for
suspected their

own men, and

this suspicion

thirty-six hours, arrived in a state of exhaustion.

Some

XAI'OLl'OX

196

were

Others

taciturn.

res]);)iisihiht\- for

chari;"e(l

the outljreak.

RUSSIA

IX

their

y\Il

ct)iii|)aiii()ns

with

believed that (h-unken-

ncss and want of discipHne anioni;- the

scjlch'ers

had helped

They hooked at each other

What would luirope sa)- ? They spoke with

to spread the conflagration.

ith (lisnia\-.

downcast eyes, as if awestruck by so terrible a catastrophe,

which tarnished their glory, destroyed the fruits of their
victory, and endanLjered their lives.
Would not Providence the whole civilized world punish such criminals ?
These sad thoughts were at last mitigated by the news
that the Russians themselves were setting fire to the city.
Officers who came in from
It was impossible to doubt it.
A hurricane had sprung up,
all sides agreed on this point.
and the fire was raging with unheard-of fur}\ In less than
an hour it had engulfed ten different parts of the city, and
an enormous district on the far side of the river was trans-

formed into a .sea of flame, spreading terror and destruction

A cupola of fire hung over the whole city,
far and wide.
the air was alive with sparks and burning embers.
" At night-time," says I.abaume, "the city was set on fire
in various places, and the conflagration soon reached the
In a moment, the palaces which we had
finest portions.
admired for their architecture and the taste of their fittings
were wrapped in a sheet of flame. Their superb pediments,
adorned with statues and bas-reliefs, fell with a crash on
The churches, although covered
the ruins of the columns.
lead,
also
fell in, and with them the
and
with sheet-iron
Cforcreous domes of <Jo\d and siher, which we had seen the
clay before glittering

in

the sun.

The

hosjjitals, contain-

ing over 20,000 wounded, were not long

in

catching

fire,

and the scene which then presented itself was revolting

and horrible to the last degree. Nearly all the inmates
A few of the survivors might be seen dragging
perished.

In a Russian Chukch.

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

197

themselves half burnt through the smoking ruins

others

lay groaning under piles of corpses, convulsively endeavour-

ing to

lift

the ghastly weight above

them

in their efforts to

escape."

What must have been at

who was in Peter's

leon,

this

time the thoughts of Napo-

Palace

Probably, like other

witnesses of this awful night, he did not close his

about six

despatched to the next camp to

Madame O
met

ej-es, for

the morning one of his aides-de-camp was

in

command

the attendance of

who had taken

refuge there.
The two were
by Marshal Mortier, who showed the
hall.
Napoleon was waiting for her in

at the Palace gate

visitor into the large

the recess of a window.

" I was told that you were very unhapp)', Madame; is it
so?" asked Napoleon, and for a full hour he plied her with
questions on various matters.
Great must have been the difficulties of the conqueror if
he had to seek counsel from this lady in matters of politics
and administration. Among other things. Napoleon asked
what she thought about the liberation of the serfs.
I
think, your Imperial Majesty," she answered, " that they
would scarcely understand what you mean by it."
This lady was not alone in having the honour of ad\'ising
the Emperor.
Several others ventured to give their advice.
*'

Napoleon, indeed, invited their opinions,

for

advice costs

nothing.
"

city

How
? "

shall

describe the scenes that took place in the

says an eye-witness.

loose from prison,

and

"

Soldiers, sutlers, convicts let

prostitutes,

were roaming the

breaking into deserted houses and seizing

all

streets,

that attracted

their cupidity.
Some clothed themselves in silken dresses
embroidered with gold, others piled upon their shoulders as

many

furs as

they could

carr)-.

Soldiers,

and the rabble

in

NAPOIJCON

198

IN

RUSSIA

Crowds broke
drank to intoxication, and
reeled about the streets laden with plunder.
It was not
only deserted buildini^s that were pillai^ed in this wa)-.

general, attired themselves in court dresses.

open the doors of the

The

cellars,

soldiers forcibU- entered inhabited houses,

every

woman

When

the}- met.

abandon Moscow, licentiousness reached

to

Unrestrained

point.

and abused

the generals received orders

its

culminating

the presence of their leaders, the

b}'

troops gave themselves up to the most monstrous excesses.

Nothing was sacred

One

eye-witness

to their unbridled licence."

us

tells

"

Nothing so inflamed

greed of the plunderers as the Archangel Cathedral

Kremlin,

the
to

in

the ro)'al

enormous

find

tombs of which

treasures.

In

this

the}'

the
in

hoped

expectation

the

Grenadiers descended with torches into the vaults, and

compunction disturbed even the

without
dead.

We

"

l:)oncs

of

the

hoped that night would put a stop

to these horrors,

but the darkness merely served to render the conflagration

more

terrible.

The

flames, spreading from north to south,

shot up into the heavens, illuminating the pall of

smoke

Our blood

chilled

hung like
we listened

that

a thick fog over the city.

as

to the babel of cries,

louder

in

the

darkness

who were being

the

growing louder and ever

moans of the unfortunate

tortured and slain

the screams of
maidens vainl}' seeking refuge in the arms of their mothers
the howling of the dogs which, in the Moscow custom, were
chained to the gates of the houses, and were thus slowly

wretches

burned
"

be

alive.

Through the

.seen

ping,

thick

smoke long

loaded with booty.

files

of wagons were to

The.se were continually stop-

and above the din ro.se the shouts of the drivers, who,
being burned to death, spurred on their horses and

fearful of

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

forced a

way

to an

199

accompaniment of recrimination and

abuse."

We

met a Jew," says Bourgogne, " who was tearing his

beard at the sight of a burning synagogue of which
and
hair
he had been the Rabbi. As he was able to speak a Httle
German we learned that, together with other Jews, he had
"

brought to his place of worship all his valuables.

" We went with him into the Jewish quarter.
There we
found that ever)'thing was burned to the ground. Our friend,

on seeing the ruins of his house, uttered a cry and fainted.

'
Whenever the troops discovered a house still intact,
they broke in the door as if fearful of missing any chance of
plunder.

If they found an)-thing

they already possessed,

previously collected to

when

the}'

more valuable than what

threw away the treasures

make room

for the

new

boot)',

and

no more they brought away

their carts could hold

loads of plunder upon their shoulders.

" Sometimes when their road was barred by fire, they
were forced to turn back and roam about the strange city,
Notwithseeking an outlet from the lab}Tinth of flame.
standing their danger, the greed of the plunderers conquered

Covered with blood, they made

their way over dead bodies to any spot where the)- expected
to find treasure, heedless of the burning ruins which were

their dread of the flames.

falling

about them.

Nothing but the unbearable heat

eventually drove them awa}', and compelled them to seek

shelter in the camp."

The

earth was so hot that

Boots were no protection

it

was impossible

to touch

it.

the ground scorched the feet

Eye-witnesses assert that

even through leather soles.
molten lead and copper were flowing in streams along the
streets.
Strangers were astonished to observe that the
inhabitants looked

upon

their

burning houses without a

NAPOLEON

200

Their

trace of emotion.

RUSSIA

IN

relii^ious

must undouijtedly

faith

have sustained them, for they phiced iko)is before the

houses tliey abandoned, after quietl)' making the siu^n of
the cross, witliout lamentation, or weepiny;, or wringing of
hands.

lady

who determined

Moscow

to leave

with her friends,

upon one of her acquaintances, an old woman named

Poliakoff, to urge her to accompany them.

called

"I found

her," she said,

She was dressed

lamp.

as

if for

Babouchka (granny)

matter,

that your house

on

is

'

her

ikons, lighting

a holiday,

about her head.

with a white kerchief

know

"near the

asked.

'

'

all

in white,

What is
Do }'OU

the

not

Let us pack up your

fire?

traps and clothes as quickly as possible, and with God's

we may escape we came to take }-ou with us.' ]iut

Thank you, my pigeons, for remembering

help

she only replied

For

me.

my

'

part,

will

not leave

We

it

And

begin to pray.

all my life in this house,

When it was set on fire j)ut
shall
and my burial garment.

have spent

and
on my wedding chemise
I

alive.

it

is

thus that death will find me.'

tried to reason with her

uh}- should she

become a

martyr when the good God pointed out a way of escape ?

I shall not burn,' she rejoined,* I shall be suffocated before
the flames can reach me.
Go there is still time. The
smoke is already filling the room, and I have my prayers
*

to make.

Let us say good-b)-e, and then go.

God

bless

you.'

"Weeping, we embraced
she blessed us
sinner, if ever

see

any of

bowed

all.
I

my

her.

have done you any

family, give

them

before her as before one

was already

full

With

'Forgive me,' she

of smoke."

tears in her eyes,

said, 'a

injur)',

my

wretched

and when

last greeting,'

who was

dead.

}-ou

We

The room

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

The

201

small property of the Convent of St. Alexis, hidden

The soldiers dressed

the store-room, was plundered.

in

themselves

long habits of the nuns

in the

several took

up their quarters in the cell of the Lady Superior, and

caroused there for two whole days, inviting the young nuns
to join them.

One

of them

her name

is

known

willingly

submitted to this disgrace.

The young ones among

one of the nuns,

was taking place
We had gathered together in a room, and
in the cell.
gently opened the door to steal out one by one. An old
Where are }^ou going ? she exclaimed.
nun ran up to us.
Go back at once. You wish to look at the soldiers, shame"

"

were dying of

us," relates

curiosit)' to find out ^^hat

'

'

'

See how }'ou blush. If }^ou had

been modest girls you had been pale with fear.' One of
the elder nuns insulted the French whenever she met them,
but they made no repl}'. She went to the well to draw
A Frenchman ran up and offered to help her draw
water.
less

women

that )^ou are.

up the bucket. Then she ga\-e reins to her indignation.

What, drink water drawn by your impious hand? Be off,
'

accursed one, or

will

throw

it

over you.'

another nation would have been angry

and withdrew.
" At the Convent of the

A man

of

he merely laughed

Nati\it}' the older

nuns

hit

upon

the device of rubbing soot over the faces of the novices.

In

passing through the courtyard

number

of soldiers,

they encountered

who surrounded them. The old women

by their gestures, that the
Near at hand was a bucket

spat on the ground, pretending,

novices were black and ugly.

of water.

One

of the soldiers picked

it

up, advising the

nuns to wash their faces. Then they became frightened

and tried to escape, but the Frenchmen caught them and
commenced to scrub them. All the nuns, young and old.

NAI'OLKOX

202

then began to shriek, while the

saying

''

If the

Jolics filles'

RUSSIA

IN

solch'ers

lauc^hcd

testimony of numerous eye-witnesses

credited, the

lieartil}',

"

French soldiers were

less

cruel

is

to be

than their

much more polite,

Although their name is associated
with all the monstrosities and cruelties committed during
the invasion, this is mcrcl)' because the Russians made no
distinction between them and the Germans, W'urtembergers,
Saxons, Bavarians, Poles, Italians, and others, and only
spoke of the " P^renchman," on whom they placed all

allies,

and, according to private reports,

and even obliging.

responsibility.

An
on

old neighbour of mine, of

whom

made

inquiries

knowing that his village had been occupied

by Frenchmen only, informed me that " They did us no
this point,

harm.

They

onl}' fed at

our expense."

In one case the troops stole

of a village church.

encamped within

The

all

jjriest

the sacramental vessels

sought out Murat,

who

a short distance of the village, and, \\ith

tears in his e}'es, besought the

neccssar}' for divine service.

King

to restore the vessels

The}' were found and given

back, and this act of grace is attested b}' an inscription on

one of the silver vessels. The priest of the church of
Kolominskoe told me that his father-in-law, who was a
child at the time of the invasion, was so much afraid of

the P'rench that he hid himself in the sto\e, until, being

hungry and impatient, he began to cry. The soldiers

pulled him out, petted him, and solaced him with sugar.

From

the beginning, according to Segur, the conflagra-

might ha\e had terrible consequences for the invaders,

whose want of foresight and carelessness were incredible.
" Not on))- did the Kremlin contain, unknown to us, a
powder-magazine, but at night the worn-out and badl)'-

tion

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

203

placed sentries allowed a battery of artillery to enter and

position under the windows of Napoleon.

take up

The

Emperor

pick of the army, and the

would

himself,

have been blown to pieces if but one of the burning cinders

which flew over our heads had alighted on a powder-chest.
For several hours, therefore, the fate of the whole army

hung upon

scattered abroad b}- the

that of every spark

conflagration."

The courage
admiration
"

we

of

of
their

"

foes.

so terribly

suffered

Moscow

people of

the

excited

by the

fire,

the

Labaume,

Although," says

we could not but

admire the generous self-sacrifice of the inhabitants of the

cit}', who, by their courage and steadfastness, have attained
to that high degree of true glory that marks the greatness
of a nation.

."
.

The same writer admires the firmness

who were condemned to be shot. " At
death, each stepped forward to be,

if

of the Russians
the

moment

of

possible, the first to

With a demeanour

that

bore

eloquent witness to their calmness and courage, they

made

the

receive

fatal

bullet.

the sign of the cross, and

fell

The Abbe Surrugues, a

witness, says " The soldiers

riddled with bullets.

."
.

Catholic priest, and

an

e}'C-

did not respect the modesty

of women, the innocence of children, nor the grey hairs of

age.

The wretched

from place to place

b)'

inhabitants of Sloboda, pursued

the flames, were obliged to take

refuge in the cemeteries.

The unfortunate

with terror stamped on their faces, seen

fitfully

JlijJ'M

beings,

*y

by the

burning dwellings flitting among the tombs,

might have been taken for so many ghosts that had left

light of the

The sacramental
monuments consecrated by the

their graves.

the

vases, the images,

all

piety of the faithful,

were pillaged or dragged ignominiously about the

streets.

'}

NAPOLKOX

204

The churches were turned

RUSSIA

IN

into i^uard-houscs, .slauL;hter-

houses, or stables."

No town taken by assault c\-er

An officer asserted that since the

witnessed such excesses.

Revolution

I'^ance he

in

had never seen such insubordination in an arni}-. All the

streets were strewn with bodies of the dead, l>'inc,r side by
side with the carcases of horses and other animals that
liad perished by fire or famine.

The author

details

"

of the Joiinial dc la Giicrrc confirms these

In one quarter," he relates, "cries of 'Murder!'

were heard,

d)'in[^

away

into sighs

and groans

in another,

the inhabitants were besieged in their houses, defending

and devastated hearths against a

by drunkenness and exasperated by
resistance.
In yet another quarter one saw men and
women, scarcely clothed, dragged through the streets and
their already iMllaged

soldiery infuriated

threatened with death

if

they did not reveal the

s[jot

in

which their supixjsed wealth was concealed.

The
shops were wide open, the shopmen had left, and the
goods were scattered about in ever}- direction."
The Russian author, A. F. de B
gives the following
details
" So soon as one troop of marauders left the
.

was

the streets.

house, another took

a shoe

place, so that not ex'cn a shirt or

its

People no longer dared to go out into

Even the soldiers placed on guard began to

left.

imposing silence on the wretched inhabitants by

threats and blows.
Some, having lost all their wardrobe, were obliged to wear female apparel.
Men were to
be seen wearing elegant bonnets trimmed with feathers or
loot,

flowers
feet

... on

their shoulders

were squeezed into

Even
querade.

were

ladies' boc^ts.

fur tippets,

and

their

."
.

the French officers took part in this absurd mas-

The weather was becoming

cold,

and

satin

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

205

trimmed with fur were for this reason worn over

miHtary uniforms and accoutrements.
pelisses

What concealment could be effectual against men who

had made war and plundered in every corner of Europe?
Hearths and ovens were broken to pieces in the search for
treasure. The earth was turned up with sword and bayonet
even the cemeteries were visited, the resting-places of the
dead violated, new graves opened, and coffins ransacked.
The sick were thrown out of their beds in order that the
plunderers might search the mattresses.
The tubs in
which orange-trees were planted, the flower-pots in hothouses, were emptied of their contents in the same frenzied
hunt for loot.
An Englishman living in Moscow succeeded in outwitting
the pillagers. He dug a deep hole, put into it all his coffers,
and, without quite filling up the cavity, interred the body
of a French soldier, which he then covered over with a
.

The French,

slight layer of earth.

must be something hidden, began

feeling certain that there

immediately
dead comrade.
" It is impossible," remarks Perovski, " to imagine the
state of Moscow.
The streets are encumbered with furniture and other wares
on all sides one hears the songs of
drunken soldiers and the shouts of the pillagers fighting
among themselves. Here a bearded grenadier is to be
desisted

when they recognized

to dig, but

their

seen clothed in priestly vestments, with the three-cornered

wearing a woman's tippet,

with a stole round his neck. A third appears in a mantilla,
wide trousers, and a helmet while a fourth is decked out
hat on his head.

Another

is

in a white cloak

An. elderly

and wears red kakochniks as a head-dress.

warrior, again,

of a deacon

is

a cavalryman

strutting about in the surplice

is

masquerading as a monk,

with his shako adorned with a red plume

a soldier of the

NAPOLKOX

2o6
line

is

camp

in

IN

woman's

proiiicnadini;" in a

returned into

RUSSIA

many

of the

officers, following;"

the soldiers

(hsguises, the}' could

only be identified by their side-arms.

worse,

When

skirl.

x'arious

tlieir

To make

matters

example of

the

their

from house to house. The less bold

among them contented themselves with pillaging houses in
which they were quartered. Even the generals, under pre-

men, went

Icjotiny;

made house

tence of investigation,

to

house

and

visits,

ordered any objects that j)leased them to be laid aside."

Madame

Fusil has left an interesting account of these

" In my house," she relates, " were two

Gendarmerie of the Guard. E\er\-thing was
upside down m)- papers were scattered over the floor,
I
returned by the light of the burning houses the glare was
horrible, and the fire was spreading with inconceivable
rapidity.
A violent wind was blowing, and everything
seemed to have conspired to assist the destruction of the
doomed city.
Grandly horrible was the sight. For
four nights we did not require a lamp, the light was more
brilliant than at mid-day.
On one occasion we wished

lugubrious days.

officers of the

to take the usual road to the boulevards, but

we found

it

by a sheet of
the middle of the street, and the

impossible to pass, the wa)- being blocked

flame.

We

stood

in

by the wind, formed an arch of fire over the

This may seem to be an exaggeration, but
thoroughfare.
We could neither advance nor make a
it is literally true.
flames, fanned

detour.

Putting our horses to the gallop,

regain the boulevard.

to return

The house

we managed to
we intended

to which

We

went from street to street, from

All bore the marks of devastation.

was burning.

house to house.

had scarcely eaten anything since the previous day. A

These were carried
table and some chairs were still intact.
down into the street, and a sort of dinner was prepared and

We

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

207

Imagine a table in
flames or smoking ruins
the middle of the street, houses
on all sides, the wind driving dust and smoke into our faces,
incendiaries shot down near us, drunken soldiers carrying
away the booty which the}' had just pillaged."
In the midst of these horrors they had the heart to open
a theatre. Those actors who were left in the city were

dished up

in the

middle of the road.

in

called together,

some being ordered

to sing in the

Kremlin,

was hurriedly run up

The
in the house of Pozniakoff, and pieces were chosen.
curtain and the costumes were of rich materials willingly
supplied by the soldiers, and a huge lustre, stolen from one
others to assist in a

pla)'.

theatre

of the churches, gave the necessary light.

The

orchestra

was selected from the bands of the various regiments, and

two Russians are said to have given their services. Neither
the Emperor nor the marshals attended, but many generals
and officers were among the soldiers who filled the hall.

The wax
illuminate

candles taken from the cathedrals were used to

some houses spared by the

conflagration, in

which balls were arranged. The French, obliged to dance

with one another, were unceasing in their questions as to
the whereabouts of the Russian women. " Where," they
asked, " are the barinas, your daughters ? "
naively expressing deep regret at their absence.
Thus the invaders led at times a jovial life in Moscow.
Bourgogne, referring to this period, says " As we thought
we should remain some time in the city, we stored up for
the winter seven large cases of champagne, and several of
sherry and port.
We were the happy possessors of five
hundred bottles of Jamaica rum, and over a hundred large
loaves of sugar to be divided among six sergeants, a cook,
and two women. Meat was scarce, but \xq had a cow.
We had also several hams, which had been found in large

NAPOLl-:ON

2o8
(111.

unities, a

two

lar_L;e

and some

good

suppl)- of salt

barrels of tallow, which

beer.

We

RUSSIA

IN

fish, some sacks of flour,

we had taken for butter,

slept in a billiard-room

on

sables,

fox and bear hides, each with his head wrapped

in a rich shawl, fornn'ni;' an immense turban."
lions' skins,

Those who did not attend the

roll-call

would come back

laden with the richest and most valuable booty.

included silver plates with designs

in

relief;

The

loot

a bar of the

same metal, as large as a brick ornaments, Indian shawls,

and silk stuffs woven in gold or silver. ..." We, the non;

commissioned officers, levied a tax of at least twenty per

on all the loot brought in by the soldiers."
Bourgogne then gives an account of an improvised ball.

cent,

"

We

began," he says,

"

by dressing our Russian women

I'rench marchionesses, and as they

knew nothing about

as

the

Flamand and I were told off to superintend their

Our two Russian tailors were disguised as Chinese
I as a bo}'ard (Russian nobleman), Flamand as a marquis
in short, we all assumed a different dress.
Our caiitinicrc.
Mother Dubois, who turned up at that moment, donned the
rich national dress of a Russian lady.
As we had no
wigs for our marquises^ the company haircutter dressed
their hair, using tallow in place of pomatum, and flour
their toilette was indeed a marvel.
instead of powder,

dress,

toilette.

"

When

everybody was

read)', dancing began.

I must
admit that during the preparations for the ball we drank
somewhat freely of punch, with which Mellet, an old
dragoon, took care to supply us, and which got into the
heads of our marquises, and also affected the old cantitiicrc.
" Our band consisted of a flute, played by the sergeantmajor, while the company drummer tapped the time.
"They began with the tune Ou va Iciii- po-ccr Ic Jla)ic
'

ran, ran, tan plan, tire

lire,

ran plan!

liut

when

the band

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

struck up

and

209

Mother Dubois was advancing towards

her vis-d-vis, the quartermaster-sergeant,

our

niarqjiiscs,

by our stirring music, began to jump

Tartar fashion, bounding from side to side, and

evidently deh'ghted

about

in

cutting

sorts of capers, so that

all

one might have thought

them possessed. This would not have been remarkable

had they been dressed in their national costume, but the
sight of French marquises, usually so decorous, jumping
about as if possessed, was so irresistibly comic that we were
convulsed with laughter, and the flute-pla}'er was unable to
continue.
The drummer, however, stuck to his post, beating the advance, at the sound of which our marquises began

anew

until

they could hold out no longer, and

the floor through sheer fatigue.

We

fell

down on

picked them up and

applauded, and then continued dancing and drinking

till

four in the morning."

"

At the Kremlin,
At each gate of

too,

they were not without amusement.

this fortress-palace," says the

the Journal de la Guerre,

author of

"

were posted sentries of the

Grenadiers of the Guard. They had wrapped themselves in
Russian furs, fastened round the waist with cashmere shawls,
and close to them were vases of opal crystal, two or three
with preserved fruits of the most expensive
which were stuck large wooden soup-ladles.
Around these vases were piled enormous quantities of
flagons and bottles, the necks of which were broken
to
save time. Some of these men had donned Russian headdresses in place of their shakos.
They were all more or
less drunk, had dropped their muskets, and literally did
feet high, filled

kind,

in

sentry with their

Although
strict

wooden spoons.'

officially forbidden, pillaging

orders, threatening

continued.

the execution of

were necessary to produce any

effect.

all

Very

mutineers,

But the harm done

p

NAPOLEON

2IO

RUSSIA

IN

was immense and irreparable.

Thirteen thousand eii^ht
hundred houses, to say nothing of palaces, had been reduced
to ashes.
in

The shops

of six thousand tradesmen, forming

themselves a small town, had disappeared.

had also been burned.

houses

ventured to

lca\-e their cellars,

When

the

Huge wareinhabitants

they failed to recognize the

They only found

isolated houses standing in the

burned rubbish marked where the
streets had stood, and the ruins were encumbered with the
bodies of men and animals. Several men were to be seen
still hanging
these were the incendiaries, real or suspected,
who had first been shot and then strung up. The soldiers
passed by these ghastl}- trophies with complete indifference.
The army had wine and sugar in abundance, but neither
bread nor meat.
In vain were detachments sent into the
forests where the peasantry were concealed \\ith their cattle
the men returned empty-handed.
" If, from the beginning," sa)'s the /\bbc Surrugues, whom
I
have already quoted, "the authorities had seized the
store-houses containing flour, wine, and brand}', and estabcit}'.

midst of ruins.

Piles of

lished a certain order in the distribution of the provisions,

there

is

no doubt that Moscow might have been preserved

from want during the whole winter.

pillaging

was that

necessaries of

life

at the

The

approach of the

result of the

frost,

the prime

were wanting."

The peasants of the village of Ostankino came indeed to

Moscow with thirty cart-loads of oats and flour which were
duly bought and paid for. Having received their money
they left, with the injunction to come again as soon as
possible.
But scarcel)- had they left Moscow than they
were assaulted, beaten, and compelled to return to the city,
where the)' were jiut to forced labour. Two other peasants
who had sold their wares to the T^'cnch were robbed, and

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

211

one of them was killed. From that time forth no one had
any desire to deal with the soldiers or the army, and, in
spite of all their efforts, de Lesseps, the former ConsulGeneral, who had been appointed Civil Governor of
Moscow, and his Russian assistants, could not succeed in
establishing an open and well-supplied market.
But in Moscow itself the inhabitants, less timid and
more greedy for gain, did not hesitate to enter into
A large quantit}- of copper
relations with their invaders.
Mint
in
bags,
containing twenty-five
money, found at the
roubles each, was used to pay all arrears due to the
soldiers.

When

Guard wished

the

populace heard

to sell these sacks, large

that

the

Imperial

numbers hastened,

like a flock of birds of prey, to the Nikolskaia, the principal

centre of trade.

For

they could buy as

fifty

many

copecks, or a silver rouble each,

sacks as they wished.

that several of the great business houses of

It is said

Moscow

date

The
when laden with

the beginning of their prosperity from that time.

most

difficult

part was to force a way,

Even the women hoisted them

some strong hand would snatch
thief would manage to escape in spite

sacks, through the crowd.

on

their

shoulders, but

them away, and the

of cries and blows.
a sack.

me
off,

There were

a present of

be

it."

off!" "Give

Great was the competition to obtain

of " Monsieur monsieur make

cries
" \\'
it

hat will you

to

"

" Be
Then would
sword, rained down

gi\-e

for

it ?

me, monsieur."

follow blows from the flat end of the

on the outstretched hand, but this treatment was borne
with patience, when fortune was so close at hand.
The next morning some soldiers took their stand at the
windows of the Courts of Justice, and set up an office for
After receiving the money for a
the exchange of money.
sack of twent\'-five roubles, the\' would throw the bag out

NArOLKON

212

IN

RUSSIA

The crowd would then surround the buyers

of the window.
and make a rush for the sacks, facing even musket-shots
in their (k'h'rium

of greed.

da)'s, three wine-shops were opened in

During
Moscow by I'^rcnchmen, the waiters being Russian. From
these places were heard the sounds (jf quarrelling, fighting,
and even fire-arms. Many French soldiers were murdered
in the cellars, in the neighbourhood of the city, and bodies
were found in the gardens, in the orchards, at the bottom
of deep wells.
A pupil of a seminary was told off as servant to a
squad of Hussars quartered at the extreme end of the
He noticed, one evening, an individual who was
cit)'.
looking through the lighted windows, watching all that
went on inside the house. "What are }'ou doing there?"
he cried. The stranger stepped back quickl)-, then approached and questioned the young man, after taking him
into the garden, and showing him the Cossack uniform

these

under his caftan of coarse cloth. He wished to find out

whether the Hussars were numerous, whether they all
slept in the same room, where they deposited their arms
nnd horses, and enjoined the most absolute secrecy.
Two days afterwards the seminarist was awakened by
all the Hussars had been
an extraordinary commotion
;

killed.

Hiere were many similar cases, the l^'rench recognizing

and with good cause, the handi\\()rk of "the cursed

in all,

Cossacks."

The

situation of the troops in

Moscow

was, indeed, not

Proclamations, in which the wisdom,

and magnanimity of NapolecMi were vaunted, insiting the inhabitants to return home, and follow their
N'arious occupations in peace, produced no effect whatever.

without danger.
charit}',

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

Relations between the French
of

Moscow were never

army and

213

the inhabitants

Those who passed

re-estabhshcd.

in the higher classes, were

But a very small number can be mentioned,

over to the enemy, especially

very few.

among them being the riding-master Zagri'ajski, who purposely remained in Moscow to please his friend Caulaincourt,
and Samsonoff, who entered the service of Davout.
The clergy behaved with great dignity. They rose
shown

superior to the weakness that had been

Some

in

Western

attempted to hold divine service

once more, and to celebrate the Mass they caused the
churches to be cleaned, and locked up. But the soldiers
smashed the locks, broke in the doors, and cut up the
Russia.

priests

the Convent of Novinski,

Napoleon so desired, to say
mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption. By order of
the Emperor, he celebrated divine service pontifically,

books.

sacred

named

Pilaefif,

wearing, that

is

priest

offered,

of

if

to say, the robes of a bishop.

Many

were only too glad

Napoleon's difficult situation.

advantage

of

who seemed

to

take

to

Pole,

be a person of position, came to the Kremlin, declaring

that he was sent with a secret mission by the Com-

Napoleon dictated

mander-in-Chief of the Russian army.

in

person the answers which this spy should deliver to

the Russian general, paid

him

well,

and never saw him

again.

handsome woman, and a

a

herself

German

baroness,

skilful

who

musician,

offered

her

calling
services,

and disappeared.
But the largest number of persons ready to enter into
the service of Napoleon was found among the merchants
of the three Guilds, and among officials, doctors, and

received several thousand francs

aliens.

XAPOLKOX

214

The

into

the

and had the

of

service

members wore round

ribbon,

RUSSIA

greater part of the notables had been

enter

to

IN

their

arm

the
a

compelled

municipality.

The

badge of red and white

right to call out the soldiery in case

of necessity.

The merchant Koltchouguine, for example, gave three

Moscow first, because the Governor-

reasons for not leaving

General had asserted that the city would not voluntarily

be evacuated

women and

secondly, because passports were given only

and, thirdly, on account of family

and business matters. Of course the majorit)' of the
people might have put forward the same excuses.
All
the merchants who remained, including Koroboff, Ikikinine,
Leschakoff, and, above all, Nahodkin, who had been
obliged to act as mayor, declared that they refused to
do anything against their faith, or the Emperor Alexander.
To this the French Governor, de Lesseps, replied that the
differences between the two Emperors were outside their
province; their only duty was to watch over the security
and prosperity of the city. The merchant Ossipov offered
This gift
Napoleon bread-and-salt on a silver platter.
was sufficient to cause his house to be spared, and he
l^ut when
himself was appointed provider to the arm)%
to

he asked
told

cliildrcn

for carts for the transport service, the

him that he would hang him

if

Emi)eror

he raised

any

difficulties.

The

Mayor

of Moscow,

Nahodkin,

whom we

have

already mentioned, received a lumdred thousand roubles

for his services,

but the bank-notes were

false.

After the

evacuation of Moscow, Rostopchin compelled these gentlemen to sweep the snow off the streets, wearing their white

and blue badges, and guarded by soldiers.

The conduct of the merchant Jdanov was very

different.

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

On

215

the recommendation of Samsonoff, cited above as an

made him a proposal to

movements of the Russian

adherent of Davout, the latter

visit

Kaluga, find out

the

army, inform himself about

its officers,

discover whether the

regiments had been brought up to their

strength since

full

the battle of Borodino, and learn what was being said about
the prospects of peace.

He was

to spread the

directed

rumour that there was no want of bread in Moscow, and

that Napoleon intended to remain there during the winter.
If the Russian army was at Smolensk he was to return as
quickly as possible without going to Kaluga.
All precautions were taken, and his family in

guaranteed the

faithful

Moscow

performance of his mission.

On

his

return he was to receive a thousand ducats, and the freehold

of a house.

Jdanov did not

hesitate.

He went

directly to

Miloradovitch, the head of the Russian advance-guard, and

told

him

his reasons for leaving

Moscow,

as well as the

He rewhich the French expected from him.

mained with his countr)'mcn, and his family was not

services

molested.

Rostopchin

is

open

to severe censure for his inactivity

during the stay of the French army

in

Moscow, and

for

not

having used his influence to organize volunteer corps. He

must also be blamed for his ridiculous attempt to save the

by arming a band of ruffians at the last moment, and

for the pompous phrases and dubious meanings with which
he filled his reports to the Tsar. In a word, he was
city

emphatically not the

man

for the place.

But in spite of all, the French army was obliged to

abandon Moscow. The situation could no longer be disThe three hundred pieces of cannon mounted on
guised.
the walls of the Kremlin with much labour had proved
absolutely useless but the Kremlin itself must be made to
;

NAi'OLEON

2i6
suffer, if

only because

it

IN

RUSSIA

could not be carried

other trophies, such as the cross of Ivan Veliki.

blow up the towers, the

away with

An

order

walls, the cathedrals,

was
and the palaces that constituted the celebrated fortress of
former Tsars. The destruction of the Kremlin was merely
the expression of Napoleon's vengeance, as cruel as it was
It cannot be excused on grounds of policy, for,
useless.
inasmuch as the Kremlin was merely surrounded by a
issued to

wall,

it

was of no use

When

as a fortress.

the evacuation was decided upon, Marshal Mortier

was directed

to

remain behind

in

Moscow

with the

Young

Guard. He was ordered to deny any rumours relating to

the evacuation, and to pretend that Napoleon would return
after defeating the Russian troops whom he had gone out
Nobody believed these assertions, and all who
to meet.

had compromised themselves, from French merchants down

to Russian girls of loose character,

wake of the army.

With the exception of

made ready

to follow in

the

Moscow

the Imperial Guard, the troops

helter-skelter, got

up

in

ridiculous

left

and wretched

garments, giving them the appearance of scarecrows rather

than soldiers. It was arranged that the immense quantity
of powder stored up in the cellars of the Kremlin should not

be
his

fired until the

command.

departure of Mortier and the troops under

All that they could not carry

away was

to

be given to the flames and the mines were so laid that the
fire should not reach them until the garrison was at a considerable distance from the city.
" It was an excessively dark night," says A. F, de B
;

"

At midnight the

fire

caught the arsenal of the Kremlin,

and the first explosion w^as heard, followed at short inNothing could be more terrible
tervals by six others.
immense stones were hurled to a distance of five hundred

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

paces.

Not a

single

217

pane of glass remained, and the

broken pieces were driven into the surrounding walls.

The towers and a portion of the walls were blown down.
The arsenal was almost destroyed. The steeple of Ivan
Veliki shook and cracked, but resisted the shock."

The

effect of the

explosion was, however, insignificant as

compared with what had been intended. A cold rain was

falling. The first shock had all the effect of an earthquake.
Buildings were shaken to their foundations, walls divided,
roofs cracked, and threatened to crush all below them, and
furniture

all

was broken or displaced.

number of
wounded by fragments
"

timber.

great

the

inhabitants were

wretched

of glass,

or

the

fall

heavy

of

This awful night caused the death of

many

persons."

Madame Fusil states that the explosion was so tremenmany women miscarried through fear others went

dous that

mad, and children died of fright and excitement.

The

French wished to blow up the rest of the town, but happily

they had not the time to do

"On
"

the day the French

we were awakened

in

earth shook under our

walls of the cellar

so.
left,"

says a Russian

our cellar by a
feet,

must

fall

woman,

terrific report.

The

and it seemed to me as if the

At the
in and bury us alive.

second explosion a hailstorm of stones flew about in all

directions
at the third the church was so shaken that it
The walls of the Kremlin were
split from top to bottom.
;

destroyed, and a pile of ruins and bricks

marked the spot

where once the palace had stood. Not only the ground of
the Kremlin, but the Polianka, and the far side of the river,
were covered with plaster, bricks, and sheets of metal torn
away from the roofs."
I
copy from Segur's Mcinoircs a description of the

NAPOLEON

2i8

IN

RUSSIA

"On

October 23, at half-past one in the

was shaken by a terrific explosion.
Mortier had ()bc}'ecl his orders, the Kremlin existed no
longer.
Barrels of ounpowder had been jjlaced in all the
rooms of the Imperial palace, and one hundred and eii^htythree thousand kilogrammes under the vaults that held
them up. The Marshal, with three thousand men, remained
on this volcano, that might have been exploded by any
stray Russian .shell. He covered the march of our army on
Kaluga, and the retreat of our various convoys towards
catastrophe

morninL^, the air

Mozjaisk.
"

He had

"

The

been ordered to defend the Kremlin, and when

blow

retiring, to

town

up,

it

and

remainder of the

set fire to the

was shaken under Mortier's

earth

Six leagues

force of the explosion.

Emperor heard
which he

the

morning, a

at

proclamation

Kremlin, arsenal, magazines,

luu'ope,

dated
all

from

by the

feet

Fominskoie, the

report, and, with that

times addressed

at

off,

ferocity with

issued,

are destroyed.

next

the

Borawsk

'

The

This an-

cient citadel, dating from the beginning of the

monarchy,
a thing of the past. Henceforth Moscow will be nothing but a pile of rubbish, an impure and unwholesome sink, of no importance political or
military.
He leaves it to the Russian beggars and pillagers, to march against Kutuzof, outfiank the left wing of
that general, hurl him back, and then quietly reach the
borders of the Dvina, where he will pitch his winter
quarters.'
Then, as if he feared to aj)j)ear to
the

first

palace of the Tsars,

retreat,

he adds

eighty leagues

advantage
objective.'

that

'

to
is

By

step he will be nearer by

and St. Petersburg, a double
sa)', twenty marches nearer to his
this

Vilna
to

is

THE BURNING OF MOSCOW

219

By this proclamation he sought to give his retreat the

appearance of an offensive movement."
" Moscow," says Madame Fusil, " had a charm which it
It will perhaps become a beautiwill never possess again.
ful city, but it will be like any other, instead of suggesting
"

Pekin, or Ispahan, a typical city of Asia

."
.

Ill

THE COSSACKS
On

quitting

fell

into the

Moscow, the Grande Armce

hands of the Cossacks, who
surrounded and pursued it to the frontier,
and even some way beyond. They so
harassed the French that the word
"

Cossack

"

soon became a synonym for

"Terror," not

onl}'

in

France but

all

over Europe, representing the height of

and barbarit}'. But in

and killing the enemy, the
Cossacks were after all doing nothing
A'd/oUvu.
more than their dut)-. At times they
undoubtedly committed atrocities, but they often gave
greed,

perfidy,

pursuing

proof of humanity.
"

The

Cossacks," says Constant, the Emperor's

lur/rf

dc

clianibrc^ "

seem to have been created to be eternally perched

on a horse. There is nothing more amusing than to see
them try to walk. Their legs, bowed through the habit of
gripping the horse's flanks, resemble the arms of tweezers.
When he dismounts, the Cossack seems to be on an
element to which he does not properly belong.
" The Emperor, on entering Gjatsk, escorted by two of
these barbarians on horseback, ordered that vodka should
be served out to them.

They swallowed

it

as

if

it

were

THE COSSACKS
water, and held out

calmness

tails.

a most

glasses with

for a further allowance.

and had long

On

their

221

amusing

Their horses were small,

They appeared

to be very docile."

the road to Mozjaisk 300 Cossacks attacked at night

a convoy of 350 carts, having a guard of four regiments of

cavalry and two battalions of infantry.

the harness of

all

In a few

moments

the carts was so hacked about that

it

was impossible for the drivers to proceed.

Baron Fain speaks somewhat ironically of the Cossack
tactics.
Although Kutuzof is rather weak in a pitched
battle, he is at least unrivalled on the high-road.
The
audacity of these undisciplined hordes knows no limit.
We ha\'e them in front of us, behind us, on our flanks.
They face us at every turn. Perhaps the road to Viazma
ma}' free us of them for some da}'s."
But after the battle of Viazma, the Russian infantry,
which had taken a parallel road to cut off the French,
disappeared, and Ney's rear-guard was again beset by
Cossacks.
Importunate insects, to use Segur's expression,
mounted on little horses with roughed shoes, trained to
gallop on the snow, they gave the retreating arm}' no peace.
" To complete the disorder of our retreat, which was of
itself enough to undo us," says Rene Bourgeois, " the
''

As soon as our
men caught sight of them, the}' would scatter in ever}'
direction. Some fled hurriedly to the front, while others
Cossacks attacked us unceasingl}-.

back on the guard, or on some of the companies that

were still to be found at intervals."

fell

Another witness, A. F. de B

adds

this sketch

"The number of stragglers was so great that the Cossacks

picked out their prisoners, taking those who seemed best
dressed, and whom they imagined to have loot. They allowed
the others to pass on, without seeming even to notice them."

NAPOLEON

222

"That wretched

cavah-}-,

RUSSIA

IN

which makes a vast amount of

incapable of breaking through a square of

noise, and
voltigeurs, has become formidable through force of circumis

stances."

Such was Napoleon's opinion of the Cossacks

one of his bulletins. Platoff, however,

almost cut up the whole of the Ikauharnais division. He
500 men, and took 3500 prisoners, captured 62 pieces
killed
of cannon, several flags, and a large quantity of transport.
" Napoleon did not, and above all would not, understand
that the Cossack cavalry was unique of its kind, and in no
as

forth

set

in

way resembled

regular horse."

action unless victory was

never risked a regular

It

certain.

If,

however, he had seen

the Cossack who, having put on the uniform of Marshal

Ney, "the bravest of the brave," went calmly about his

business, he might have appreciated the fearlessness of
these simple children of the steppes.
" It is a historical fact," writes Constant,

"

that the

King

of Naples impressed these barbarians greatly. The Emperor

was told that they wished to name I\Iurat their Hetman.
Napoleon, amused at the proposal, said he would be
It must be admitted
theatrical in his
something
that the King of Naples had
It was
bearing calculated to appeal to these barbarians.
said that by simply flourishing his great sabre he had put

delighted to second the nomination.

an entire horde to flight."

The author of the Journal de

Guerre relates that in

French troops laughed
heartily at an incident that occurred during a Cossack
One of the enemy sei/.ed hold of one end of an
attack.
la

spite of their critical position, the

enormous roll of fine linen. The other was held fast by a

Frenchman, and as the Cossack galloped awa\', the roll was
unwound and continued to extend in a long serpentine strip
until

"the barbarian" disappeared into a wood close by.

THE COSSACKS
The Cossacks succeeded one day

What

baggage.

discovery of a

in

223

capturing Napoleon's

pleased them most in this haul was the

number of

" Chateau Margaux,"

surmounted with the Imperial

bottles of old

stamped with the letter

crown.

now

Napoleon's camp-beds, taken by the Cossacks, and

Museum

Armour

Moscow, are interThey are two in number, one large and the other
esting.
The former was set up when Napoleon intended to
small.
make a more or less protracted stay. The covers were
of lilac silk, and provided with pockets for the reception of
papers, books, and reports to be read during the night.
The relations between the French prisoners and their
Cossack captors were at times marked with the utmost

exhibited in the

cordiality, if

we may

of

in

credit the following statement

by the author of the Journal de

la

Guerre

"

Our

made

artillery

having been captured, the gunners were disarmed and

marched off roped together. In the evening the Cossacks
celebrated

their

victory

by a great

festivity,

in

drinking and dancing played the principal part.

which
In the

expansiveness of their hearts they wished every one to

prisoners,

good fortune, and remembering their

invited them to take part in the general merry-

making.

The

participate in their

unfortunate artillerymen desired nothing

little by little,
by the good cheer lavished upon them, they
the dances, and took a hearty part in the amuse-

better than rest after their labours, but

restored

joined in

ments of

their captors.

The Cossacks were

so

much

delighted by this display of good-fellowship that they

allowed the French to don their tunics and shakos, restored

their

side-arms, shook

their

hands vigorously with

who embraced them in turn, and made

way back to their quarters."

friends,

their

new

the best of

NAPOLEON

224

I\

RUSSIA

An equally pleasing story is told by a marine of the

Guard who was taken prisoner by the Cossacks. " While
we were warming ourselves round some pine-logs, a Cossack
came up a tall, lean, wiry man, of such a ferocious
countenance that we involuntarily drew back. He approached us with a militar)' salute and began talking but
we were unable to understand a word he said. He was

'

probably questioning us about something. Annoyed at

our failure to understand him, he showed signs of his
but when he
displeasure, which caused us some alarm
;

saw

this

noticing
blood, he

he at once assumed a kindl)- expression, and,

that m}^ comrade's clothes were stained with
indicated a wish

to

examine

wound, and

his

signed to us to follow him.

took us into the nearest hut. A woman appeared,

and he told her to spread some straw and bring some
warm water. Then he went awa}-, giving us to understand
The woman
by signs that he was coming back again.
"

He

threw down a

little

and we did not

straw, but forgot

like to

all

about the water,

bother her about

returned he at once signed to us, asking

W^e shook our heads.
anything to cat.

it.

if

When

he

we had had

He

apparently

some supper, and when she refused,

Then she showed him a basin
he rated her soundly.
broth
in it, vowing, to all appearcontaining some sort of
The Cossack stormed and
ance, that that was all she had.

bade the woman

give us

threatened, but in vain

some

water.

she wcnild

The Cossack

left

do nothing but warm

us again, and soon returned

and we at once fell to, although

ate, the Cossack looked on
we
While
raw.
quite
was
it
not to eat too much at once.
us
to
signed
and
pleasure
with
hunger, he again spoke to
our
satisfied
"When we had
for our wounds.
bandages
the woman a]')parcntly about

with a piece of salt bacon

THE COSSACKS
He

225

some rags, but she refused to give him

him off with the answer
Nyeuia
Then the gallant soldier took hold of her

asked her

for

any, and tried to put

I

have none.'

'

by the arm and made her turn out every corner of the
hut, but he found nothing.
At last, irritated by her
obstinacy, he drew his sword
she began to scream, and
we threw ourseh'es at his feet, thinking that he was going
;

He

to kill her.

smiled at

us, as

much

as to say

You
'

know me, I onl}- want to frighten her.'

"The woman trembled in every limb, but still refused
to give him anything.
So he threw away his coat and
don't

pulled off his shirt, which he proceeded to cut in strips

with his sword, and set to work to re-bandage our wounds.
He talked the whole time he was engaged in this task,

using a number of Polish and

of his remarks

but,

accompaniment was,

however

German words

in the

course

unintelligible this running

showed the nobility

was trying to make us understand that he had been accustomed to warfare for more
than twenty years he was about forty that he had been
in a number of great battles, and knew that one must learn
of his heart.

his actions clearly

believe he

after

victory

pointed

to

to

his

be generous to the unfortunate.

medals, as much as to say that

He
such

tokens of courage imposed upon him certain obligations.

We were delighted at his magnanimit}-, and he could no
doubt read in our faces the expression of our gratitude. I
should have liked to say to him
Friend, rest assured that

'

your kindness will never fade from our memor}-. There

are but two witnesses of your humanity, for this woman is
incapable of appreciating

we

may

it.

Only

tell

us your name, that

At first he knelt
down, but afterwards becoming tired of that attitude he
sat on the floor with a leg on either side of my comrade.
in

turn

tell it

to our comrades.'

NAPOLKOX

226

RUSSIA

IN

in his shoulder and dressed it with

looking towards me, as if for
Then,
the utmost
he intended, if possible, to
that
me
advice, he showed
extract the ball with a rude knife which he
now produced. He tried to probe the

He washed

the

wound

care.

wound, but my friend screamed so loudly

Laying his
in his agony that he stopped.
cheek on my comrade's head, he seemed to
ask pardon for the pain he had caused. At

much

the sight of so

tenderness

forbear from seizing his hands and pressing

Summoning all the

German vocabulary,
heart was
"
'

My

get the

and

full,

wound

and

Polish, Russian,

tried to speak, but could not

my

dear, dear

my

resources of

could not

them warmly.

my

eyes were wet with tears.

camarade

dressed, for he

'

said he,

seemed

making haste

to fear there

to

would

not be time enough.

"When my

turn

kindly Cossack, having

came, the

examined my wound, gave me by signs to understand that

it was not deep, and would heal up of its own accord.
The force of the lance-thrust must have been broken by

my

clothing.

He was still attending to our wants when one of his

Pavlovski
so
comrades called to him from the street
and he left us at once,
that at last I learned his name
"

'

'

followed by our blessing.

"We thought we should probabl)- never see our gallant

Cossack again, but he returned

and examined the

brought

us

dressing of

a couple of

ver>^ early the

our wounds.

Russian

biscuits

next day

He

also

apiece,

and

expressed his regret that he could do no more."

IV

THE GRANDE ARMEE

The Russian general Grabbe,
who, during the invasion, visited
the French camp, was astonished

the disorganized state of the

at

cavalry.

This impression
,

"

'

;j^r---<

;^

'

is

emphasized

by Fezensac.

From

struck

tlie

very

first,

by the exhaustion

was
and

numerical weakness of the troops.

At

head-quarters

judged by

results,

they

only

without weigh-

ing the cost, and thus they had no

Napoleon.

idea of the condition of the army.

Four regiments of cavalry were reduced to 900 men out

of 2800 who had crossed the Rhine. All articles of clothing,
but especially boots, were in a wretched condition. We had
at first enough flour, and a few herds and flocks, but these
resources were soon exhausted, and to renew them we were
"

obliged to

move

constantly

twenty-four hours

we

from place

cleared

out

any

to

place, for in

locality

through

which we passed."
In a conversation with M. de Narbonne at Vitebsk, the
227

NAPOLEON

228

IX

RUSSIA

Emperor estimated the two combined Russian armies before

Smolensk at 130,000 men with the Guard, the ist, 3rd,
4th, 5th, and 8th Corps, he calculated his own strent^th at
;

no battle were fought he did not intend

if he won a complete victory, he would
to pass Smolensk
perhaps march straight to Moscow but in any case, a
battle, even if undecided, seemed to him likely to pave the
170,000 men.

If

way for peace.

At Smolensk and

at

the battle

of Valoutina,

Rene

and Fezensac agree in estimating the French

losses at 6000 to 8000 killed, and over 10,000 wounded.
The Russian loss was equal, if not greater. Together with
prisoners and stragglers, the Grande Armee lost in these
engagements about 20,000 combatants.
The Emperor, however, does not scruple to assert, in
Bulletin XIII., that for every dead Frenchman on the field
of battle there were eight Russians, and that the soldiers of
the Tsar, encouraged by the proximity of their villages,
He acknowledges that
seized every opportunity to desert.
obliged to fall back,
and
beaten
was
Sebastian!
General
men. As, howonly
100
his
loss
at
estimates
but he
might be looked
his
generals
of
best
one
ever, this retreat of
impression
painful
upon as a serious check, and produce a
on the whole army, the Emperor decided to march on
l?ourgeois

Moscow.

Labaume

sketches the situation at that moment in a few

distress in the midst of our

strokes^ To describe our

apparent victory,

worn out by

it is

sufficient to

say that we were utterly

the persistent and systematic retreat of the

cavalry was totally disorganized, and the

half-starved artillery horses could no longer draw the guns."
All this took place at the beginning of the campaign
Russians.

Our

but

far

from showing alarm, Napoleon merely laughed

at

THE GRANDE ARMEE

the Russians, whether sincerely or not
"

In the midst of

all

He wrftes

victonesT'

it is

229

difficult to say.

the defeats which they look upon as

in

Bulletin

XIX.,

"the Russians

singT^ Deuius of thanks. In spite of their ignorance and

want of culture, this behaviour begins to strike one as
unnatural and hideous."

At Borodino

the Russian redoubts turned out to be mere

sketches of fortifications, and the trenches shallow and un-

protected
that,

yet the Russians defended

them so obstinately

according to Labaume's description, the centre of the

Great Redoubt presented an inexpressibly terrible picture.

The dead were

piled

upon one another

Russians were falling on

all sides,

several deep.

but they refused to

The
retire

one square league there was not a spot that

was not covered with dead or wounded. Further on were
heaps of dead among scattered fragments of guns, lances,
helmets, cuirasses, or cannon-balls covering the ground like
hailstones after a violent storm. The most awful spectacle
of all was to be seen in the trenches
poor wounded
wretches, who had fallen one on the top of the other, lay
weltering in their blood, groaning in the most heart-rending
manner and praying for death. " Not only," says Fezensac,
" had the French army never before suffered such losses""!^
at Borodino, but, what was worse, never before had the spirit
of the soldiery been so utterly broken as after that battle.
The irrepressible gaiety of the French soldiers vanished,
and instead of the songs and jokes in which it had been
their wont to forget the fatigues of their long marches, a
in the space of

Even the officers,

Such depression is intelligible
defeat, but it was certainly not to be
victory which had thrown open the gates

death-like silence reigned in the camp.

it

appears, utterly' losfheart.

when

it

follows

expected after a
of Moscow."

.--^.-<.^.=

"

^_^-^,

XArOLKOX

230

IX

RUSSIA

According to Russian authorities, whose accounts are

completely at variance with Napoleon's own assertions, the

Emperor

more than 50,000 men in the attack, including

and 49 generals; while the Russian losses,
dead and wounded, amounted to 40,000, including 1732
officers and 18 generals.
The enemy's losses must have
been increased by the fact that during the three days in
which they were engaged on the field of battle they had
nothing to cat and drink but roots and water. Scgur admits
a loss of 40,000 men, and says that the army which entered
Moscow numbered 90,000. The division of Cuirassiers,
which had comprised 3600 horses all told, numbered but
1200

lost

officers

800 on that day.

The

which the French army found itself

Moscow was not by any means an
enviable one.
It had neither bread nor meat, although the
tables were spread with sweetmeats and s}'rups.
\^aluable
wine was readily exchanged for blankets and a fur-coat
could be bartered for any quantity of sugar and coffee.
The camp presented the appearance not of a military
bivouac, but rather of a market where every soldier, turned
tradesman, was busy selling the most valuable articles at
the most moderate prices; where all the men, though living
in the open field exposed to rain and storm, ate from
porcelain plates, drank out of silver goblets, and were
surrounded with the costliest luxuries of the period.
During their stay at Moscow, the battalions quartered
situation

in

within the walls of

knew no

There existed, as Segur

armistice between the
opposing armies, but onl\' in the front. On the flanks and
in the rear, not a wagon could pass, not an ounce of forage
could be brought in unopposed, so that in reality the war
outside the walls
says,

still

kind of

continued.

tacit,

peace.

informal

THE GRANDE ARMEE

During the

by the respect paid

enemy.

showing
flattered

to Kis appearance, his reputation for

The Russian officers took good

undeceive him. They loaded him with all the

courage, and
care not to

in

He was

few days Murat delighted

first

himself to the outposts of the

231

his

rank.

tokens" of deference calculated to keep up this illusion.

He was allowed to order their vedettes about as if they
were Frenchmen. If any part of the ground they occupied

pleased him, they hastened to surrender it to him.

Cossack chiefs went so far as to pretend enthusiasm, and

Emperor the Emperor

Murat even believed for a time

to sa3rffiat they only recognized as

who

reigned in

Moscow.

that they would not fight against him.

The' Emperor, who was not deceived by these professions, complained bitterly of the exasperating guerilla
warfare to which he was constantly exposed. " Had not a
hundred and fifty dragoons of the Old Guard met, been
attacked, and routed by a horde of these barbarians?

And

this

took place but two days after the armistice on

the road to Mozjaisk, his principal line of communications,

which connected him with

his

stores,

his

reserves,

his

Europe
Every morning," adds Segur, " our soldiers, especially
the cavalr}', had to travel great distances to obtain the
And as the environs of Moscow and
necessaries of life.
Winkovo became more and more denuded, they were
Men and
obliged to range further and further afield.
horses returned worn out, some did not return at all.
Each measure of oats, each bundle of straw, had to be
Nothing but
fought for, dragged out of the enemy.
began to be
peasantry
Even
the
losses.
fights,
surprises,
depots, with

itself."

"

'

|_

troublesome.
"

We

had war on

all

sides

in front,

on our

flanks, in

our
J

NAPOLEON

232

rear.
The armx'
enemy becoming;

IN

RUSSIA

weaker and weaker the

more venturesome. ... At last
Murat himself i;rew anxious. He saw half the remnant of
his cavalry melt away in these daily skirmishes."
In Hulletin XXII. Napoleon only says
"The Cossacks
w as

i^rowiny;

daily

attack

our

some

scouts.

curiosities

forwarded to Paris.
sun

is

The Turkish

flaijs,

as

well

as

Holy Virgin studded with diamonds, have been

of the

mad.

taken from the Kremlin, and the image

He

more

Rostopchin

is

brilliant

and hotter than

fancy oneself in the south.

not approve of the burning of

gone

said to have

has set his country-house on

fire.

in Paris,

The

one might

The Russian army does

Moscow.
The Russians
.

look on Rostopchin as a Marat consoling himself in the

society of Wilson, the English attac/u\"

Napoleon says not a word about

conclude peace.

his

endeavours to

Winter was advancing. S^gur continues " The Russians

openly expressed their astonishment that we should appear
so indifferent to the approach of their terrible winter. It
^.7N
was their natural ally they grieved for us, and urgeJ^us
/
I
;

^^p^,

J
\'-(^

to retreat.

'

In another fortnight,' they'sa.TdT'^Toijr nails

drop off, your weapons

and half-frozen hands."
will

will fall

out of }'our stiffened

The cold seems to be the

the veterans of the
But
__% i\
army, who have already learned, in the bogs of Pultusk
and the ice-fields of I'^.ylau, to brave the climate, hojjc to
escape this time with the same good luck. Moreover, no
calculation has been neglected in this matter, and all the
Fain confirms these details

"

only cause of future anxiety.

probabilities are reassuring.

It is

usually only in

or January that the Russitm winter displays

Durin<^

November

the

thermometer

December

all its severity.

seldom

marks

six

THE GRANDE ARMEE

degrees of

frost,

in

a normal

year.

233

Observations

made

during the preceding twenty years confirm this statement."

On October 13 the Emperor saw the first fall of snow.
"

Let us hurry," he

our winter quarters."

in

Bulletin

in

Labaume

twenty days we must be

Napoleon repeats this sentence

said, " for in

XXIV.
is

very emphatic in his remarks

" It

is

past

comprehension," he says, " that Napoleon could be so

blind and so obstinate as to remain in Russia when he saw
all

that the capital on which he had relied

that winter was approaching.

was

in

ruins,

and

Providence no doubt,

punishment of his pride, must have dulled his wits.

Could he otherwise have imagined that the very men who
had had the courage to destroy their homes would be weak
enough to accept his onerous terms, and sign a peace on
in

the flaming ruins of their cities?"

"

In proportion as our strength and energy

same

fell,"

says the

author, "so did the boldness of the Cossacks

rise.

It increased to such a pitch that they actually attacked an

convoy on its road from Viazma, and repeated the

experiment on another artillery convoy coming from Italy.
These Tartar hordes dashed in whenever they found a gap
between our armies, and availed themselves of the advantages
of their position to display the most impudent daring."
The King of Naples, whose cavalry had almost reached
the vanishing point, daily implored that something should
artillery

be done
begun.

"The

peace should be concluded or a retreat

But the Emperor was both deaf and blind.
spell was broken at last !" exclaims Segur, "and
;

that

by a mere Cossack. This barbarian fired at Murat as he

was visiting an outpost. Murat was highly indignant, and
explained to Miloradovitch that an armistice that existed
only to be broken was not worth prolonging."

NAPOLEON

234

The
able.

position of the French

It

was impossible

RUSSIA

IN

army then became

remain

to

in

intoler-

Moscow, but

was

it

The

equally impossible to retreat without preparation.

Emperor of the French nevertheless continued to issue the

same characteristic bulletins. " Some think," he said, " that
the Emperor ought to set fire to the public buildings,
march to Tula in carder to be near Poland, and spend the
winter in afriendly country where

he can easily obtain

all he rccjuires
from the stores of Dantzic, Kovno,

-^.

Vilna,

and Minsk.

out that between

Others point

Moscow and

St.

Petersburgthereare 1 80 leagues of

bad road, while the distance from

Vitebsk to
1

St.

Petersburg

Msocow

is

dition

it

only
that

worthless as a strategic

position, while in

is

30 leagues, and conclude

inust lose

its
its

ruined conpolitical

im-

portance for a century to come.

There are a number of Cossacks

Birojmc Fin:

witli

thing

points to

the necessity

cucmy who give our

some trouble.
Every-

the

cavalry

of seeing

to

our winter

The cavalry especially are in need of rest."

The battle of Tarutina opened Napoleon's eyes. He
now saw that Kutuzof was merely playing with him, and
" From the
he resolved to retreat. But what a retreat
quarters.

very

first,"

says Fezensac,

" it

resembled a rout. "~"

companies were d)'1ng from sheer starvation, whilst

did not know^ what to do with their provisions.
soldiers who straggled from the line of march in
of food, fell into the hands of the Cossacks and the

Some
others

Those
search

armed

THE GRANDE ARMEE

peasants.

The road was

been blown
abandoned.

The

up,

soldiers

with

filled

guns

235

with caissons which had

and

were unwilling to

carts

that

had been

sacrifice their loot,

and

marched heavily laden. One of them gives an inventory

of his share" I had furs, pictures by old masters, rolled
up for convenience of transport, and some precious stones.
One of my comrades carried a huge case of quinine. Another
had a whole library of beautiful books with gilt edges, and
bound^i red morocco. I had not forgotten the inner man,
and had provided myself with
in

reserve three

and coffee, besides

two cherry and one

sugar,

We
details
of

pots

big

rice,

gooseberry."

jam

were obliged to
"
Bourgogne gives similar
I took this opportunity
halt and wait for the left column.
It was
to overhaul my knapsack, which seemed too heavy.
I had several pounds of sugar and rice, some
well loaded.
of liqueur, the silk dress of a Chinese
gold and silver thread, several gold

biscuits, half a bottle

woman
and

embroidered

silver

in

ornaments,

among them

a fragment of the cross

I
of St. Ivan, or rather the cover which surrounded it.
of
St.
should state that in the middle of the great cross

Ivan was a smaller one,

in

massive gold, a foot in length.

had also my full-dress uniform, a woman's large cape for

riding, two silver pictures, a foot wide by eight inches high,
the figures in relief, and several medals and stars set in
I

diamonds belonging

to a Russian prince.

All these

kept

had on my shirt, a waistcoat of

to give away.
yellow silk, embroidered and wadded, which I had cut out
of a woman's petticoat, and over that again a large collar,
A game-bag was slung at my side and
lined with ermine.
held up under the collar by a heavy piece of silver braid.
This bag held many precious things, among them a figure
Moreover,

NAPOLEON

236

of Christ in <^old and

silver,

IN

RUSSIA

a china porcelain vase, both of

which escaped the general wreck as

Then came my
cartridges in

my

The Russian
this

woman

managed

my

if

by a

miracle.

arms, and sixty rounds of

pouch."

witness, A. F. de B., gives the last touch to

" Every French officer

had two or three
and each took with him a Russian or French
for a number of women had in one way or another

picture

carriages,

cross-belts,

to follow the

army.

Some

of them, suspecting

the hard fate that awaited them, changed their minds at

the gates of the city and returned.

Others were robbed
on the road of their horses, their provisions, and their furs.
These wretched beings lived to see their children buried
under the snow, and later on the greater number of them

perished miserably.

them was seen

Very few escaped, and not one of

to cross the frontier."

Speaking of the women who accompanied the Grande

Armee, Duverger relates a characteristic episode " We
had orders to prevent any carriage from getting between

the guns.

magnificent carriage, drawn by four horses,

approached us rapidly. 1 signalled to the coachman to

stop, but he refused, and continued to drive on.
My comrades and I seized the bridle, and the carnage was close to
the edge of a ditch when a young and pretty woman put
her head out of the window.
Her handsome new clothes,
as well as the luxury which surrounded her, plainly showed
that she enjoyed the favour of some very important personage.
She ordered us in the name of the Emperor, and of
the Major-General, to

let

her pass, but

wc

refused."

After Malo Jaroslavet/ the situation of the arm}- became

more and more critical.

On November 5, hand-mills,
and rather heavy ones, too, were served out to the Guard.
It seemed like a i)ractical joke, for there was nothing to

THE GRANDE ARMEE

The

grind.

troops threw

away

237

cumbersome and

these

useless utensils within twent}'-four hours.

On

snow began to fall heavily. The

by the flakes and numbed by the

the following day

men were

blinded

intense cold.

Within a few nights," writes Baron Fain, " everything

Horses fall by thousands, cavalrymen march
on foot, the artillery are without harness, the edge of the
road is strewn with our unfortunate comrades. An entire
brigade under General Augereau, the brother of the
marshal, is surprised on the 9th, by the Cossacks of OrlovDavidov and Seslavin, and surrenders
Napoleon has still
enough natural feeling to be moved by this new Iriis fortune.
He sehHs^General Baraguay d'llliers an old comrade of
the arm}' of Italy, and one of his most distinguished
generals
on to France, with orders to remain under arrest
in his own house until he can be tried by court-martial."
Prince Eugene reported the loss of all his artillery and
ammuiiitionT On the road into Doukovstchina he met with
a terrible disaster crossrhg"^the little river Vop.
The scene
is dramatically described
by Labaume " There was a
general panic, for in spite of the efforts made to keep the
Russians in check, we knew but too surely that they were
"

is

changed.

The prevailing panic, moreover, increased our

The river, being only half frozen, would not bear

advancing.
danger.

wagons and droshkies which contained

Every one then struggled
most precious possessions from the wagons

the weight of the

our few remaining provisions.

to transfer his

to the horses' backs.

cart than a

crowd of

time to rescue their

No

sooner were the horses out of a

soldiers,
effects,

without giving the owners

began

to

plunder

search was particularly keen for flour and wine.

cries

of those

who were

it.
.

Their
.'The

crossing the river, the terror of

NAPOLEON

38

those

and

who were

slipper}'

IN

RUSSIA

preparini^ for the j)hingc from

the steep

bank, the distress of the women, the weeping

of children, and the panic of the soldiers themselves,

made

the passage of this river so harrowing a scene that

it

is

without a shudder.

For a whole
league around, on the edge of the road and the banks of
the river, lay abandoned guns, caissons and elegant carriages
that had come from Moscow.
On every side lay articles
that had been flung from the wagons
they were of course
especially conspicuous on the dazzling snow.
There were
candelabra, bronze antiques, old masters, and rare and
impossible to recall

it

costly porcelain services."

"On

every

Bourgeois.

"

reigned

side

terror

and

Safety seemed to die only

says

despair,"

and of
course no one wished to be the last. If the crowd jostled you
beneath the wheels of the carriages, you might abandon all
hope of the horses pulling up and allowing you to extricate
yourself.
No one would listen to your cries. In the
throng it was impossible to distinguish generals from
common soldiers they were dressed like scarecrows, in
tattered garments, suffering the pangs of cold and hunger,
and reduced to beg favours of the soldiers under their
in flight,

command."
Chambray

relates,

for instance

"One

day when some

were warming themselves round a fire, a general

half dead with cold, and begged for a place.
No
one vouchsafed a word in reply, and it was only on his
repeating his petition that one of the men answered
'All
soldters

came up

right, if you'll fetch

"

another

log.'

Lawlessness and insubordination reached their climax

and obedience was out

of the question. All distinctions of rank were levelled we
were a wretched mass of shrunken, deci\'ilized humanit)'.
there

was no thought of

discipline,

THE GRANDE ARMEE

When some

poor wretch, wearied with the long struggle,

prey to his miseries, his neighbours, fully

at last, a

fell

239

was over with him, and that he would

themselves upon their wretched
never
comrade, before the breath was out of his bod}-, and
In a few
stripped him of the remnants of his clothing.
moments he would be left naked on the ground, to die a
One might often see the
lingering and painful death.
spectral semblance of a man dragging himself painfully
along to reach the halting-place, striving his utmost to put
one leg before the other, until he realized at last that his
strength was leaving him. A deep groan would be heard,
the man's eyes would fill with tears, his legs would begin
to fail him, he would totter along for a few yards, swaying

assured that
rise

all

again, flung

from side to

then fall to the ground, never to rise

poor wretch's body fell across the road, his

side,

If the

again.

comrades would step indifferently over

it

as

if

nothing had

occurred,

The courage of which the troops had at first afforded

many signal proofs, gave place to the most hopeless
cowardice. They had no thought but of flight.
The idea
"

so

of defending themselves never seemed to occur to them.

many instances they refused

their own lives.
" At the approach of a handful
In

to raise a

hand

of Cossacks, or a band of

peasants with clubs, there was a general stampede.

those

who

to run the

carried muskets

more

quickly.

Even

would fling them away in order

Those who were taken prisoners

a company of Grenadiers
an easy prey to these unarmed peasants."
The Cossacks and the militia," says the author of Tlie

never dreamed of resistance

would
"

to save

War

fall

of I 8t 2, "were more formidable to the captives than

NAPOLEON

240

the regular forces."

power

in their

once
" It

was

others

fell

generals did

all

that

was

officers

would

ha\-e

had

to be

everywhere

order to save the prisoners.

in

Fczensac.

The Russian

to restrain their ferocity, but their animosity

was such that the

at

RUSSIA

IN

marching over an endless battle-field," says

lay in the snow with frost-bitten limbs
I
asleej) and perished in the burning villages.
like
"

Some

remember a

private

in

my

battalion

who

acted like a

drunken man. He marched at our side without recognizing any of his comrades, asked after his regiment, named
the men of his company, and yet conversed with them
He swayed from side
as if they were complete strangers.
to side as he walked, and his expression was dazed and
wandering.
"

The

blinded by the whirl of drifting snow,

soldiers,

could not even distinguish the road, and often

ditches which
clad,

became

their graves.

fell

into

and worse

Ill-shod

without meat or drink, huddled and shivering, hardly

move

able to

a limb, they pressed forward at

without paying the slightest attention to those

Alas
failing, falling, and dying around them.

all

costs,

who were

what a
mass of poor wretches there was upon that road, perishing
of sheer exhaustion, yet still struggling to ward off the
!

approach of death Some cried Farewell to their brethren

and comrades, some with their last breath murmured the
names of their mothers and their homes. The cold soon
stiffened their limbs and struck into the very marrow of
The place where they fell was marked only
their bones.
'

'

by

little

heaps of snow along the wayside, covering their

bodies like the hillocks

"

in

in

the church)'ard.

Flocks of carrion rose up from the valleys and hovered

the

air

above them, uttering

cries

of

ill

omen.

The

THE GRANDE ARMEE

241

innumerable dogs which had followed the army from

Moscow, fattening on carrion, slunk around and howled on
every
It

side,

awaiting fresh prey."

should be mentioned that

most of the men had

when

began

the retreat

furs of different kinds,

but

in

nightly bivouacs, the snow, melted by the heat of the

the

fires,

soaked them through and through, and they afterwards

froze again into solid blocks of

ice.

The

result

of the

and thawing was that at last the fur

rotted away and dropped off, and nothing was left of the
splendid sables and ermines but a few wretched brown rags.
Stragglers who had deserted from their regiments were
repulsed wherever they went, and could find no place in
alternate freezing

One

can imagine the plight of these poor

Tortured with hunger they flung themselves on

the bivouacs.
wretches.

fell, and fought like savage dogs over the

Exhausted with long marches and want of sleep,
they could find in the snow no rest for their weary limbs.
Half dead with cold, they wandered in every direction,
searching the snow for fuel, and even when they w^ere successful, the sodden wood was difficult to kindle and the fire
was easily extinguished by the wind. " Then they huddled
together like cattle," says an eye-witness, " around birches
and pines, or under carts. Sometimes they would set fire
to the houses in which the officers had taken refuge, and
sit motionless through the night around these monster

every horse that

carcase.

bonfires."

The soldiers' frost-bitten limbs were covered with sores,

which turned into black patches when they warmed them
at the fire, and he was a lucky man who could boast of
having escaped frost-bite altogether.
In their miseries they forgot their booty.

was covered," says Uuverger,

"

"The

road

with useless plunder, which

NAPOLKOX

242
they had

flung-

awa}-.

left to its

fate.

seemed

want them.

to

The famous

tried to sell
I

happy thought of

ni)^

gave m)'

The man who brought away

the

RUSSIA

IX

selling

chest of quinine
pictures,
furs

away

was

but no one
for nothing.

the library was struck with

in

it

lots,

but no one would

make a bid."
They had even

|f

to abandon the famous trophies from

Moscow, casting them into Lake Semlcfsky, between
Gjatsk and Mikhailov.
The guns, the various knights'
trappings, and the ornaments from the Kremlin were
buried close by. Segur says that the famous cross from the
/belfry of John flT^Great was also sunk in the lake, but
according to other authorities it was dragged on as far as
J,/
the first post-house beyond Vilna. "How did it happen,"
he asks, " that nothing had been provided for before the
army left Moscow ? How was it that these masses of
soldiers who died of cold and starvation, were found laden
with gold and silver instead of the food and clothing they
required ? How was it that during a rest of thirty-three

days they never thought of roughing the horses' feet so

more speed and safety?

that they might get along with

How
these

was

it

that,

even

if

Napoleon himself gave no

obvious precautions did

authorities

occur

to

the kings, princes, and marshals?

not aware that even

in

Can we suppose

winter?

not

sagacity of his

men, and

Russia autumn
that
left

is

the

orders,

other

Were they
followed by

Napoleon relied upon the

them to look after them-

selves?
"

Was

he perhaps misled by his experience of campaignis no more severe than in

ing in Poland, where the winter

h' ranee
Was he deceived by those sunny October days,
which surprised even the Russians themselves? W'hat
midsummer madness was it that scattered the wits of
.''

THE GRANDE ARMEE

Napoleon and

his

army

What was

What

mist was

243

it

that obscured

which they
heads were turned by the notion of
concluding a treaty of peace within the walls of Moscow,
they had still in any case to march back again. Yet not
their

vision

counted

Even

the slightest

the

resource on

if all

made even

preparation was

for

most

the

peaceful return."

At last," continues Segur, " the army cast its eyes once
more upon Smolensk. BeTore them lay the promised land,
where the hufigry should be filled and the weary be at rest,
where they were to lie in warm and comfortable rooms and
"

forget their nightly bivouacs in forty degrees of frost.

they thought,

'

we can

sleep as long as

we

wish,

'

Now,'

mend our

and provide ourselves with boots

But the skeletons of horses lying in the streets show that even here there
is a scarcity of provender.
Broken doors and windowframes serve as fuel for camp-fires, and the warm houses
and promised winter quarters where are they? The sick
and wounded lie neglected in the street, in the vans in
which they arrived. This is but another camp, still coldei"
than the forests through which the march has hitherto lain.
" The greatest care was needed to prevent detachments
of the different corps from coming to blows at the doors of
the store-houses. When the rations were at last served out
clothes,

'

the soldiers refused to carry

ments.

They sprang

them

to their various regi-

eagerly upon the sacks, seized a few

pounds of flour and bore it off to gorge themselves. The

same thing happened with the brandy. Next day the
houses were filled with the bodies of these poor wretches,
dead of their surfeit of food and drink. It was evident
that Smolensk, which the army had regarded as the end of
its sufferings, was but the beginning.
An endless vista of
misery opened out before it. There remained forty more

NAPOLEON

244

days of marching

forty

RUSSIA

IN

more such days

as

they had

already experienced."

The Emperor
despair was at

arrived

He

when

9,

their

locked himself in a house

and

left it on the 14th, to continue

been counting on a fortnight's full

in the market-place,

his retreat.

November

on

height.

its

He had

and he found only half

and brandy meat there was

rations for a force of 100,000 men,

that quantity in flour, rice,

none.
"

Ever since Napoleon arrived," writes the author of

War of 1S12, " I have been engaged in serving out

TJic

rations to the troops of the various corps.

am

afraid

who keep guard over me day and

night will hardly manage to save me from being torn to
Some of the very
pieces by the famishing soldiers.

that the seven sentries

highest officers broke one of

my

windows the other night

and climbed in."

Every eye-witness speaks of the

bitter

disappointment

of the soldiers at Smolensk.

was indescribable when we

Smolensk that the 9th
Army Corps had already marched on, that the troops were
not to stay at Smolensk, and that such provisions as there
were had already been exhausted. Had a thunder-bolt
fallen at our feet, we could not have been more astounded
than at this news it was so overwhelming that we refused
"

first

Our

horror," says

learned on

Labaume,

"

the outskirts of

to believe

it.

We

famine prevailed

soon found out, however, that downright

in

the town

the

town

Land of Promise."
who could find no

which we had

pictured a veritable

Those

soldiers

quarters lay in the

and within a few hours they would be found dead

by their fires. The hospitals, the cliurches, and all the
public buildings were crowded with the sick who flocked
streets

THE GRANDE ARMEE

245

Those who could find no room were

and on the caissons and gun-carriages
on which they had been brought.
thither in thousands.

left to

"

die in the vans

One

says an eye-witness, " moaning with

Cuirassier,"

hunger, flung himself upon the

fla)'ed bod)'

thrust his head in between the

naked

of a dead horse,
and began tearing out the entrails with his teeth. So fierce were the
pangs they suffered that the Russians found dead bodies of
Frenchmen half devoured by their comrades."
They left 5000 sick and wounded in Smolensk without
provisions of any kind. The doctors and officials charged
with the duty of attending upon them took to flight, in fear
of being massacred or taken prisoners.

Chambray

is

ribs,

our authority for saying that, contrary to

custom, the sick were not even

commended

to the generos-

they

were simply abandoned as so

much useless rubbish.

" The war now became

so barbarous," says the author

ity

of the

enemy

War

of The

of 1812,

within what limits an

"

that

it

is

impossible to imagine

enemy whose wrath has been aroused

by wholesale
ance.

ruin and destruction will confine his vengeBefore planning the cruel and wanton destruction

of Moscow and Smolensk, the French should have remembered that they were leaving 10,000 of their men in the
hospitals and on the road as hostages in the hands of the

enemy."
"

When

they found themselves

left to

perish of starva-

Rene Bourgeois, " compelled to shift for themselves, these pooF wretches crawled about the fields digging
up roots and picking up the refuse of cabbages and other
vegetables.
They lay about on rotten grass and straw, on

tion," writes

rags and scraps

they were covered with vermin and filth
and surrounded by the decomposing bodies of their com;

NAPOLEON

246

IN

RUSSIA

For a distance of eighty leagues the road was

one had, so to speak, to cut a way through
corpses and debris of every kind. At every halting-place
were huge cemeteries, miscalled hospitals, which made
their presence known for miles around by their nauseating
odour due to the heaps of unburied dead, and the filth of
rades.

impassable

every sort that lay weltering

in foul

pools."

The fugitives, too, were covered with every sort of vermin.

The stench that arose from these living corpses was due
both to their disorders, and the

fact that

through dread of

the cold they never removed their clothing for any purpose

whatever.

Their hands were smeared with horses' blood,

and tattered garments reeked with its effluvium.

Many whose faces and arms were frost-bitten
resembled the rounded figures of ivory chessmen.
" What I dreaded most," says a German writer, " was the
not so much because our sufferings
approach of night
were greatly intensified at night, as because when we
halted all the soldiers collected together and huddled close
to one another so as to keep as warm as circumstances
would permit. In the general silence one might hear on
different sides, sometimes on all sides at once, the dull thud
of men and horses falling on to the frozen ground, dead
of cold and privation."
" In one encampment," says Bourgogne, " I was horrified
to find that all the men and horses were "dead and already
covered with snow. The men's bodies lay in the most
natural manner round the camp-fires, and the horses
remained harnessed to the guns. There were five men
on one side lay the hindsnarling and fighting like dogs

and

their faces

leg of a horse, the subject of their dispute.

"They had been buoyed u[) by the expectation of finding

now they had no further

food and lodging in Smolensk, but

THE GRANDE ARMEE

hope
were
"

and halted when others halted."

led,

veteran Chasseur," says the same author,

wrapped
sat

along mechanically wherever they

they marched

247

who had

"

his frost-bitten extremities in strips of sheep-skin,

down by our

He

fire.

cursed the

name

Emperor

of the

Alexander, and he cursed Russia and

he asked whether any brandy had been served out.

all the saints

then

When

No, none has been served out, and

none will be,' he exclaimed 'Well, there is but one thing
left, and that is death
" On the road we came upon a Hussar in his death
agony, now rising to his feet, now falling to the ground
again.
We tried to help him along, but he fell again, and

he heard the answer

'

Further on we came upon three men

engaged upon a fallen horse. Two were standing up,
reeling so fearfully that they looked like drunken men.
The third, a German, lay across the horse the poor devil,
for the last time.

half dead with hunger and too feeble to cut a piece

off,

was trying

the

to

bite out a mouthful, but

he died

in

endeavour."

The unfortunate women who

still

managed

to

drag

on a miserable'^e^xistcnce suffered, if possible, still more,

" Throughout this terrible march," says Madame Fusil, " I
said to myself each day that I should probably not see the
end of it but I could not tell by w^iat death I should die.
When we halted and camped in the hope of warming ourselves and eating something, we generally sat on the bodies
;

who had fallen victims to the cold, settling ourupon them with as little concern as if they were so
many sofas. All day long one might hear people exclaimor my
ing' Great heavens, my purse has been stolen
bag,' or my bread,' or
my horse.' It was just the same

of those
selves

'

'

'

'

with every one, from generals to privates.

People were

NAPOLEON

248

IN Rl^SSIA

perpetually trying to push their

with 'Room

for

way through

the crowd,

Marshal So-and-so's carriage!' or 'His

Excellency So-and-so's,' or General So-and-so's.' When

there was a bridge to be crossed, generals and colonels
would range themselves on either side, in spite of the
general confusion, so as to expedite the passage of their
own vehicles as much as possible, for the Cossacks were
'

never far off"

"

The J'rcnchwomen who had

fled

from Moscow to escape

the vengeance of the Russians," says

Labaume,

"

and who

had counted on perfect safety in our midst, presented a

most pitiable spectacle. Most of them had to go on foot,
shod in summer shoes and clad in the flimsiest of silks and
satins, in torn fur cloaks and military great-coats taken
from the shoulders of the dead. Their plight would have
been enough to wring tears from the hardest heart had
not every sentiment of sympathy been stifled by each
man's individual privations.

"Of all

the victims of this war, not one presents such an

interesting figure as the

young and

lovely Eanny.

Modest,

amiable, and witty, a talented linguist, adorned with qualities

calculated to captivate the least impressionable

she was

reduced to begging for the slightest services almost upon

her knees, and compelled to pay for every crust of bread
Her benefactors abused their
at the price of her shame.

demand

most debasing return for the

nourishment they afforded her. I saw her at Smolensk

position

to

the

unable to walk, clinging to a horse's tail, until she fell at

last upon the sno\\', and there she probably remained, her
fate
"

provoking no sign of sympathy or look of

The

unhapj:)y P.," continues

Labaume,

pity."

" still

succeeded

keeping up with us, sharing with servile fidelity in

our sorrows and [)ri\-ations. The story of this unfortunate

in

THE GRANDE ARMEE

249

worth narrating. Whether she had lost herself, or

whether her romantic spirit prompted her to seek for
adventure, I do not know, but she was found secreted in
girl is

They brought

the crypt of the Cathedral of St. Michael.

her to one of the French generals,

He

protection.

who took

her under his

afterwards pretended to be in love with

and made her his mistress under promise of marriage.

With the true heroism of virtue she suffered every misery
and privation. She was about to become a mother, and

her,

was proud of her condition and of her fidelity in following

But when the man on whose promises she
relied learned that the army was not to stay at Smolensk,
he resolved to sever a tie which he had never regarded
her husband.

otherwise than as a pastime.

This black-hearted scoundrel,

whose bosom was closed to every sentiment of pity, announced to the innocent girl, under some plausible pretext,
that they must part.
The unhappy creature uttered a cry
of despair. She declared that having sacrificed her home
and her good name for one whom she already regarded
as her lawful husband, she looked upon it as her duty to
follow him to the world's end
that neither fatigue nor
danger should deter her in her resolution to cling to the

man
"

she loved.

The

general,

that they

unmoved

must part

b}'

the

in

her
first

fidelity, curtly

repeated

place because circum-

it impossible to maintain women on the

and secondly, because he was already married
she had best return to Moscow, where no doubt

stances rendered

march

in short,

a handsome sweetheart awaited her.

was stricken dumb with despair

Pale as death, paler than

at

The wretched
this

when they found her among

vaults of the Cathedral in the Kremlin, she

many minutes

to

open her

lips.

girl

announcement.
the

was unable for

Then she began to weep

NAPOLEON

250

Rl'SSIA

IN

and moan, and, overwhelmed with

she

grief,

into a

fell

not to escape

swoon, of which her bctra)'er awiiled himself

a trying farewell, but to

from the Russians whose

fl)'

cries

were drawing nearer and nearer."

"

The

scarcity

of fodder

for

the horses,"

says

Rene

was appalling. Handfuls of decaying straw,

the broken and trampled remnants of former bivouacs, or
thatch torn from the roofs of what
"

Bourgeois,

few huts remained, furnished

all their

provender, and they perished in the

camp by

thousands.

The

sheets of

ice that covered the roads gave them

their coup dc grace

in a short

time

the cavalry was a thing of the past,

and dismounted horsemen swelled

the ranks of the pedestrians.

The

regiments became hopelessly mixed

order

up,

and

discipline

longer maintained.

no notice of

their officers,

no

were no

The soldiers took

thought

and the

officers

took

soldiers,

every one plodded along at

own sweet

his
"

for

the

will.

This disorderly rabble was clad

J'trnch Fugitives.

in

in

the most extraordinary garments

the skins and hides of \arious animals,

in

women's

petticoats of every conceivable hue, in great shawls, in

scraps of blankets, in old horse-cloths with a hole in the

As
and hanging down all round.
were gone, their feet were wrapped in tattered
rags and shreds of felt and sheep-skin, tied uj) with bits
Above these vermin-infested rags were to
of straw.

middle

for the head,

their boots

be seen

sunken

faces

black

with

the

smoke of camp-

THE GRANDE ARMEE

251

smeared with all manner of filth faces on which

were imprinted horror, despair, and the haunting terror of
There was no centre
hunger, cold, and all their other ills.
the whole army was huddled into a heap, with
or flank
no cavalry or artillery, and moved forward, baggage and
fires,

*******

all, in

At
it

indescribable confusion."

the French

last

army

arrived at the Beresina, where

must have been annihilated but for the folly of the

who had been directed to cut

Russian General Chichagof,

off its retreat.
" It

must be admitted," says Rene Bourgeois,

"

that

throughout the campaign the Russians made the most

astounding blunders. At the Beresina, in particular, they

might have taken the whole French army prisoner without

Our escape was due solely to the
spilling a drop of blood.
incapacity of the Russian commander. Admiral Chichagof,
who took over the command of the army of Moldavia from
Kutuzof
He was a young courtier, self-confident and
vain, who enjoyed the fullest confidence and favour of the
.

Emperor Alexander."

A perusal

of the despatches which this youthful favourite

pompous French periods, the confident and

condescending criticisms of anybody and everybody, not
wrote, with the

even excepting Kutuzof, enables

fatuity

us

to

appreciate his

and incompetence.

The French, having hoodwinked

or rather, admiral

proceeded

to

the Russian general

throw bridges over the

Beresina.
''Esprit de corps in the different

Marbot,

of course worthy of

harm now and then

stances.

arms of the

service," says

it does no
moderate it under certain circumThis was a task beyond the powers of those in

" is

to

all

honour, but

NAPOLKOX

252

command

RUSSIA

IN

of the artillery and engineers at the passage of

the Bercsina

for sappers

and gunners each

insisted that

they alone, and no others, were going to build the bridges.

The

was that the work remained

a complete
on
the 26/14,
until the
settled the dispute by ordering the artillery to build one
result

at

Kmi)cror, \\ho arrived

standstill

bridge and the engineers the other."

"Who

number

shall

the victims of this passage," says

S. U., " or describe the scenes of horror

Amid

inconceivable confusion the

to facilitate the passage

to be

and destruction

Emperor endeavoured

by ordering a multitude of vehicles

burned under

his

own

eyes

the Prince

of Neuichatel led several horses over with his

own
"

hands."

One's pen," says Constant,

"

simply refuses

to depict the scenes df^^ To r r o r that were

nessed at the Beresina.

drove up to the bridge

Vehicles of

wit-

kinds

all

over heaps of

literally

bodies that lay blocking up the road.

Whole

and perished

crowds of wretched soldiers

fell

among

Others clung to the planks of

the blocks of

ice.

into the river

the bridge, suspended over the abyss, until the wheels of

the carts passed over their fingers and compelled them to
relinquish

their

horses went
"

hold.

down

One woman was

blocks of

the

Caissons,

saw

drivers,

ice,

seen," sa}'s de B., " caught

holding up her baby

imploring the passers-by to save

"

wagons,

and

together."

it

in

between

the air and

from a watery grave."

soldiers," says the author of the

Jonnuxi dc

la

Guerre, "clinging to their neighbours to save themselves

from
still

falling.

saw the

feeble, tottering as

they went, yet

pressing feverishly forward, jostling one another so

that whole rows of

them

fell

into the water together, top-

Ney and the

Staff.

THE GRANDE ARMEE

253

If a Cossack showed himany one repeated the word Cossack two or three
times, the whole army of fugitives were seized with such
panic that they dashed hither and thither, backwards and
forwards, slipping and falling headlong into the river."

pling over like houses of cards.

self,

or

'

'

*******

Beyond the Beresina the cold became even more

The whole country round was covered with snow.
the

villages,

buried

monotony of the

in

the

horizon,

drifts,

severe.

Even

no longer broke the

and they could only be

dis-

smoke and flame of burning houses fired

by the inhabitants or by fugitives from the French army.

tinguished by the

"The soldiers/' says Segur, "were perpetually burning

down whole houses, merely for the sake of warming themThe glare would
selves for a few minutes at the blaze.
attract some poor creatures who had partly lost their wits
through cold and

Grinding their teeth, and

would leap into and

privation.

yelling with unearthly laughter, they

perish in the flames, while their comrades looked on with

calm unconcerned countenances. The bystanders sometimes pulled out their burnt and disfigured bodies and,
horrible to relate, devoured them."
" The road was so thickly covered with dead and dying,"
says the author of the Jouj'nal de la Guerre, " that one had
to exercise the greatest care to avoid treading on them.
Marching, as we were, in a compact mass, one had no

choice but to step on or over these poor wretches

writhing

in their

death agony.

rattle in their throats,

them any
"

but

it

One

who

lay

could hear the death

was useless

to think of giving

assistance."

In the sheds

by the roadside," says Segur,

"

were to be

seen spectacles of indescribable horror. ""Many of our men

who sheltered there for the night found their comrades in

XAPOLKOX

254

RUSSIA

IN

the morning" frozen by scores around the remains of the

In order to get out of these charnel-houses one

fires.

clamber over heaps of poor wretches,

were still breathing."
to

many

of

" I could never understand," says Constant, " why

wretched plight we must needs contintlCttrplay the

had

whom
in

our

role of

conquerors, and drag captives along with us, to the infinite

discomfort of our

own men.

The

unfortunate Russians,

half dead with fatigue and famine, were herded together in

a large open space like cattle.

in

the night

multitude of them died

the rest sat huddled together for the sake of

warmth. Those who died of the cold continued to sit

cheek by jowl with the living. Some of the prisoners ate
the bodies of their dead comrades."
It

is

interesting to note that

all

this

went on within a

a wooden house,
windows of which had to be stuffed with hay and straw.
When Napoleon left the troops, their confusion, and

few yards of Napoleon's head-quarters

the

consequently their misery, became,

The army needed

before.

the

if possible,

worse than

arm of a giant

to help

it

meanwhile the giant abandoned

it.
On the very first night one of the generals refused to
obey orders, and the Marshal in command of the rearguard had to attend the King's head-quarters almost alone.
Round these head-quarters lay all that was left of the
Grande Armee, 3000 files of the Old and Young Guard.
When Napoleon's departure became known, discipline

to bear

its

suffered

miseries, but

severe

blow,

even

among

these

seasoned

veterans.
" There were some among them w ho had covered two
hundred leagues without daring to look back saiivc qui
pent was the order of the day.
" All that were left of the baggage-wagons after the
;

THE GRANDE ARMEE

255

passage of the Beresina, including the Emperor's, had to

be finally abandoned near the Tamari post-house at the
foot of an ice-covered declivity on the further side of

The continual arrival of more vehicles behind

those that had been abandoned intensified the prevailing
Vilna.

Russians and French were soon

an inextinguishable crowd round the wagon-

lawlessness and disorder.

mingled

in

loads of French treasure."

Every one," sa)'s the author of the Journal de la Guerre,

"took what he pleased from the contents of the carriages
I saw wagons full of gold and silver looted
and carts.
in the middle of the road, partly by Frenchmen, partly by
Cossacks, without any display of hostility between them.
I made my way into the midst of them, and not one of the
"

Russians attempted to molest me."

At the Russian frontier, two kings, one prince, eight
marshals, a

few generals and

about, together with a few

still

carried muskets,

were

roaming aimlessly
Guard who
that remained of the Grande
officers,

men

all

of the Old

Armee.

(,'^JS

\:yi^

--li!^

^i

rr%

THE MARSHALS
Tiil:

lack

army must

of

discipline

in

great measure be

the

in

ascribed to the fact that the kings,

who
command were

marshals, princes, and dukes

held

the

wanting

chief
in

self-restraint

the virtue of
'//

j'-J'^

<,

^T^7/

and

in

unmurmuring obe-

dicnce to the Emperor.

As

known, at the beCampaign the King

of Westphalia took umbrage at a
well-deserved rebuke which his lack of energy had drawn
upon him, and went home, leaving his army corps without
even transferring the command, or communicating to any
one the orders he had received.
The relations between Marshal Berthier, the chief of the
staff, and Marshal Davout, between" the latter and Murat,
''

'

Marshai Ncy.

and, indeed, bctTveen

is

well

giuniug of

many

tlic

of the other commanclers7vvere

so strained that they distinctly hindered the progress of the

In 1809 Berthier had been for some days
Davout's superior officer. Disregarding his orders, Davout

campaign.

won

a battle and saved the

army from

he incurred the bitter hatred of his chief

2^6

annihilation

When

but

they met

THE MARSHALS
fierce altercation in the

far as to

257

campaign they had a

Davout
say that Berthier must be " either a fool

again at the opening of the

went so

last

presence of the Emperor.

or a traitor," and they threatened one another with personal

Berthier,

violence.
initiative.

wishes

He

as

is

known, was incapable of

well

merely served

echo of Napoleon's

as an

but he was very docile and industrious.

believer in

the

things at the

Emperor's

same time

maxim

one," he did not approve of the

necessity.

He

"

concentrate

war of

firm

Never attempt two

all your efforts on
181

2,

but bowed to

entered upon the campaign without con-

viction or enthusiasm, deeply disquieted

b\-

the position

of the French armies in Spain.

In the campaign of 18 12 the

played, to

say the

least,

was no doubt the best

Napoleon's

satellites,

ver)'

Duke
little

of Neufchatel disforesight.

strategist in the

Davout

whole galaxy of

but he was of a quarrelsome, envious,

The methodical and patient

and vindictive disposition.
genius of Davout formed a striking contrast to the impulsiveness of Murat.
This was the cause of many
misunderstandings between these two commanders, old
comrades though they were, and almost of the same age,
who had risen side by side through the various grades.
They were accustomed to obey Napoleon, but were wanting in command over themselves. This was especially
the case with Murat.
The relations of Murat and
Davout throw so interesting a light on the system of
command in the Grande Armee that they are worthy of
some attention.
Davout was put

at one time under Murat's command.

submitted to his orders, but most unwiHingly, and
although he swallowed his wrath, he ceased all direct

He

communication with the Emperor.

Napoleon, however,
s

NATOLKOX

258

ordered him to send

in

his reports as before, for Murat's

This was just what Davout

despatches were hopeless.

wanted, and from

may

he ceased to recognize

The extent

of their

be judged from the fact that in an engage-

ment one of Davout's

batteries refused

The commander

orders of Murat.

the Marshal's

fortli

King of Naples.

the authority of the

jealousy

time

that

RUSSIA

IX

own

to

fire

on

the

of the battery urged

orders in justification of his refusal

he

had been told to take orders from no one but Davout

under pain of losing his command.
The next day the two rivals had a lively altercation in

The King accused

Napoleon's presence.

the

Duke

of

obstinate resistance to his wishes, and with

enmity towards himself, an enmity,

he averred, that had its origin in Kg}'pt.
He went so far as to propose a settlement
of the quarrel man to man, urging that the
secret

-^

army should

':''\S^
'~^v!^\

^^

not be allowed to suffer

through their private differences. Davout,
on the other hand, attacked the King furi-

ously

Marshai Davout.

for

liis

wanton

rccklcssncss,

and

painted a lively picture of the disorder that reigned

the advance-guard of the arm}'.
he,

"

in

must admit," said

according to Segur, "that the Russians are effecting

their

retreat in

wherever they

the

find

it

most admirable

order.

They

halt

convenient instead of consulting the

wishes of our boastful

friend

Murat.

They

select their

and defend them so skilfiilh', with an

eye to the forces at their disposal, and the time they
wish to gain, that their tactics must have been carefully
thought out long ago.
" They ne\er abandon a position until it becomes untenable.
At night they turn in early and leave only as
positions so well,

THE MARSHALS
many

259

troops under arms as are absolutely necessary for

the defence of their positions and for allowing the rest of

the troops an opportunity for sleep and refreshment.

But the King, instead of profiting by this excellent

example, takes no account of time or of the position and
He is al\va}'s appearing in the
strength of the enemy.
skirmishing line, prancing up and down in front of the
enemy or trying to worry them on the flanks, losing his
temper, yelling himself hoarse with orders, wasting cartridges and ammunition, men and horses, for no reason
whatever, and keeping all the troops under arms until late
"

into the night.

"It wrings my heart to see the wretched men jostling

one another in the dark, and groping for fodder and water,
firewood and eatables, unable to find their own quarters,
and spending the night shouting to one another. It is not
only the advance-guard that suffers by this the whole of
our cavalry is visibly worn out. Let Murat do what he

likes with his

command

own

cavalry, but so long as

of the infantry of the 1st

Davout

Army Corps, he

is

in

will not

him worry them to death."

The King in reply hit as hard as his opponent. The
Emperor heard them out, rolling a Russian cannon-ball
about with his foot. It seemed as if he enjoyed the differlet

"

ences between his

officers,"

says Segur.

When

he dismissed them he cautiousl)- remarked to

Davout that " no one man could combine all the virtues
Davout knew how
that even if the Duke of Eckmiihl
to win battles, it did not follow that he could lead an

advance-guard

and that

pursue Bagration

in

if

Murat had been

told

off to

Lithuania he would very likely have

prevented his escape."

XAPOLKOX

26o

IX

RUSSIA

Napoleon subsequently achised the two

best to pull better together for the future

rivals to
;

but

do

their

how much

may be gathered
from Bclliard's despatch to the Emperor on the battle of
Viazma. " On the far side of the town the enemy aj^peared
in a con\cnient position behind a trench, apparently quite

they profited by this recommendation

The cavalry at once went

on either flank but when the time came for the
infantry, and the King in j:)erson was heading one of
Davout's divisions, the Marshal galloped up and ordered
the men to halt.
He then expressed loud disapproval of
the intended movement, and had high words with the King,
flatly forbidding the generals to obey his orders.
Murat
endeavoured to insist, and reminded Davoutof his position,
but his protests were useless.
Meanwhile the chance was
gone.
The King had to content himself with sending word
to the Emperor that it was absolutely impossible to carry
on the command under the circumstances, and asking him
to choose between him and Davout.
" Napoleon was very angry. He sided with Murat against
Davout, but the former could not forget the insult to which
his old enemy had given public expression.
The longer he
considered the matter the fiercer grew his indignation. The
affront, he determined, was one that his sword alone could
avenge. What mattered the Emperor's decision, or the
Emperor's anger? He must wipe out the insult \\ith his
prepared for an engagement.
into action

own hand
"

He was

about to demand satisfaction of Davout, when

and represented the consequences of

and the bad example it would set."
On the whole, Davout's accusations were fully justified.
In the course of the campaign Murat's precipitation was on

Belliard stopped him,

such an

act,

THE MARSHALS
more than one occasion the cause of

The repeated

invading army.

261
serious loss to the

attacks of the cavalry on

the square formed by Neverofsky's retreating division,

when

the Russians coolly and successful!}- sustained forty charges

by the King of Naples in person, is an example in point.

he had sacrificed the whole of his cavalry Murat
He
practically took no further part in the campaign.

led

When

merely drove about in the carriage with Napoleon, or

followed him on foot, with a stick in his hand and a furcoat buttoned up to his chin.
The order and discipline of Davout's own division were
not, however, proof against the miseries of the retreat, and
after the battle of Viazma Napoleon received a very clear
report from

Ney

informing him of the disastrous result of

the battle.

appalling feature of the whole business was the disorganization of Davout's division, which unfortunately spread to
I
feel obliged to tell }'our Majesty the
and however unpleasant it is to have to find
fault with any of my fellow-officers, I am compelled to state
that under the circumstances I cannot answer for the safety

the other troops.

truth,

of the retreat."

Napoleon himself had occasion to complain of Davout's

He had fallen behind five days' march when
he should, at the most, have been only three days in the
rear.
These complaints were repeated in all quarters, and
it was said that his movements against the Cossacks had no
dilatoriness.

other effect than to detain the arm}-.

"

Mon

"If better order had been maintained," said Ney, "the

The most
result would probably have been very different.

whole

cousin,"

patience, "

tell

the

wrote Napoleon to Berthier, losing all

Duke of Elchingen Ney to take com-

XAPOLKOX

262

mand

of the rear-guard and io

the

Duke

IN

RUSSIA

move

as quick!)' as possible

of Eckmiihl keeps the

Poniatowski

waiting

time

ever}-

Regent and Prince

a
Cossack shouts

'Hurrah.'"

Napoleon could not haxe found a better person than the

Duke of Eckmiihl to carry out his plan of taking vengeance
on the Russians by burning everything on the line of march.
When he was in charge of the rear-guard he distinguished
himself by the zeal and completeness with which he burned
every manor and village within reach.
When snow and frost appeared Davout was utterly
unable to meet the altered conditions. Thrown out of his
ordinary routine, he was driven to desj^air by the disorder
that prevailed, and was among the first to lose heart.
" Davout," says Segur, " entered Orcha with 4000 men,
all that remained of 70,000
The Marshal lost all his
personal belongings
he had no linen, and was literally
dying of hunger. When he was offered a piece of bread he
positively leaped upon it
when they gave him a handkerchief and he wiped his face for the first time for many days,
it was covered with hoar-frost.
A man must be made of
iron,' cried the Marshal,
to stand such privations
There
!

'

'

are such things as physical impossibilities

to

human endurance, and

passed

that limit

there

is

a limit

we have long

since

'
!

Ney was made

refused to

let

of very different metal.

him have the Guards

When Napoleon

for a final attack in the

plains of Borodino, he did not hesitate to proclaim aloud,

that "

if

the

way

Emperor

is

tired of fighting, let

to the Tuileries,

and leave us

him take his

do what is

to

necessary."

Amid

the universal despair and confusion of the retreat.

THE MARSHALS
Ney proved

himself not only the

"

263

bravest of the brave," as

he had always been, but an obedient and

efficient officer

he was the true hero of the retreat of the Grande Armee.

Of

Xey was a man of

Highly characteristic was his
answer to a wounded man who besought him to save him.
" What would you have me do ? " said he.
" You are but
one of the victims of the war voild tout ! " When Ney
was told of the death of the young de Noailles, he answered,
without moving a muscle " Well, well, his turn has come
it is better that we should lament his death than that he
should lament ours." The following incident is equally
characteristic of the man.
At Smolensk Ney was abandoned by Marshal Davout, and lost almost all his troops,
artillery, and baggage. When, by circuitous roads, through
bogs and forests, he overtook Napoleon with a handful of
men, and the Duke of Eckmiihl began to excuse his conduct, Ney merely replied
" I have not accused your Grace
of anything.
God sees us, and He is your Judge."
" Ney saw," says Segur, " that some one must
bear the
brunt of the retreat, and of his own free will he accepted
a remarkably strong constitution,

action, not of sentiment.

the post of danger, undertaking to cover the rear of the

army."

The Russians were advancing," says an eye-witness of

one engagement, " under cover of the forest and of the
wagons we had abandoned, and firing on Ney's troops with
"

great effect.

The

were on the point of taking to

rifle, rushed up, and led
them into action. He replied to the Russian fire with as
little concern for his own safety as if he did not know what
it was to be a father and a husband, wealthy, noble, and
respected.
Although playing the part of a private soldier
flight

when

latter

the Marshal seized a

1/

XAPOLKOX

264

IX

RUSSIA

he did not cease to be a general. Taking advantage of the

ground, he made full use of the cover afforded by hills and
houses.

In this

way he

On

twenty-four hours.
the

same heroism

army a

secured for the

respite of

the two following da)'s he displayed

from "V^iazma to Smolensk he was

ing for ten days without a break."

Military history probably furnishes

fight-

few instances

in

which a commander has extricated himself from so difficult a position as that in which Xey found himself when,
as we have alread\- said, he was abandoned by Davout on
the road from Smolensk to Krasnoye.
The rear-guard of
the Grande

Armee was caught

in

a trap

Miloradovitch's

forces lay across the road

and on either flank, so that it

was absolutely impossible to pass. Xey, however, could
not bring himself to yield, and did his best to cut his way
through.
Again and again he led his exhausted troops
against the enemy's bayonets but musketry volleys and the
fire of 40 guns at a range of 250 paces could not fail of
their effect.
At last the greater portion of the hVench
division, consisting of 12,000 men, surrendered, and all
;

27 guns,

baggage, etc., passed into the

Marshal X'ey, however, was not
He took advantage of the darkness
to escape with 3000 men, who readily followed him.
The means which he employed to effect his escape were
perhaps not quite legitimate.
The Marshal detained the
officer who came from General Miloradovitch with an
offer of surrender, and while he was awaiting a final

their

artillery,

hands of the enemy.

one of the prisoners.

answer, slipped away,

first in

the direction of Smolensk, and

then by a circuitous flank march to Orcha.

The

details of this retreat

rather of

romance than of

and

final

stern fact.

escape have an air

The boldness with

THE MARSHALS

265

which the operation was conceived and executed

less

"

than astounding.

The eyes

of every

man

is

nothing

in the Httle

detachment that sHpped so quietly out of the hands of the

Russians," says Fezensac, " were turned towards the Marshal.
He showed no trace of anxiety or irresokition, but
no one dared to question him. Ney said to one of his

who was standing by

staff-officers

''Nous nc soinmcs pas Ineii."

" Qti allez voHs faire P" asked the
"

Passer

le

officer.

Dnieper!'

On est le cJiemhi ? "

" Nous le troiiveronsr
" Et sil nest pas gele ? "
"

" II le sera!'
It

was as he

peasant

who

just strong

said.

The

fugitives

served them as a guide.

enough

to bear.

came upon a lame

The ice was only

Nevertheless, most of the

troops got across safely after abandoning

The Cossacks

all their

baggage.

started in pursuit the following day, but in

his way by river and forest,

town
of Orcha.
after much
heard of Ney's arrival, he
Napoleon
It is said that when
exclaimed with delight" I have 200,000,000 francs stored
I would willingly give them
in the cellars of the Tuileries.

Ney made

forty-eight hours

fighting, to the

save such a

man

as Ney."
Ney's movements at the battle of
Krasnoye may have been, it is impossible to read Napoleon's
account of the engagement, in Despatch XXIX,, without

all to

However

a smile.

brilliant

With

represents the

General

the most ludicrous perversity Napoleon

M arshal as

Dumas

victorious.

says that after crossing the frontier, he

was one day taking

coffee at an hotel in

Gumbinen, when

/
.

NAPOLKOX

266

IN

RUSSIA

lie was dressed in a dark overcoat,

and wore a loivj^ beard. His face was blackened as if it
had been burned, and his eyes were bloodshot. " Here I

a stran<^er entered,

am

at last

know me
"

No.

"

am

"
!

he

"

said.

Why, General Dumas,

don't

you

"
?

Who

are \ou

"
?

the rear-guard of the Grande

Armde^Marshal

Ney."

THE END

R!chard Clay &> Sons, Limitai, London

<5^ /iiin-tty.

21

BEDFORD STREET,

W.C.

Uelegrapblc HSSicss,

Sunlocks, London

List of

William Heinemann's

Air.

Publications and

Announcements

The Books mentioned

can
any Book-

in this List

be obtained to order by

teller i/not in stock, or iviUbe sent

August

iSgS,

by the Publisher on receipt of tl^

published price and postage.

3iiDC of HutbortJ.
PAl.F.

PAGE]

About

26

Dudeney

Kimball

Du

Kipling

Alexander
Allen

27

Eedcn
EUwanyer

Allen

Toit

Ely
.
Evans

Anstcy
Arbuthnot
Aston
Athcrton
Baddcley
22
28
25

Kras7ewski
Krjuker

14
2'

5>

15

29

Rostand

Leiand

Saintsbury

Le (Juerdec

Salaman (J. S.)

Salaman (M. C.

Fleming

Leroy-Bealieu

Flammarion

Lie

tehrs
Bellamy

Forbes
FothergiU

Linton

Bendall
Benedetli

F'ranzos

Frederic

Kenham

Furtwiin;l

Garmo

Lynch

C.amer

Maartens
Macdonell

Ijarrett

Battershall

Benson
Beothy
Bcringer
Bjornson
Klunt

19

30 .Garnett

29. 3'

Bowen

Boyesen

Brailsford

Brandes

Brooke

.10

&

GrifTilhs 21

Buclianp.n 14,17,28,32
.
Burgess
9

Gounod
Gosse

8,13.

i3, 19, 26

Grand

25

Granville

Hafiz
Hall

Cambridge
Capes
Chester
Chevrillon
Clarke
Coleridge

Colomb
Compayre
Compton
Conrad
Cooper
Coppee
Coupenis

16

Hanus

II

Harland
Harris

24

32
13

Hauptmann

17

22
26

Herford
Hertwig

29

Heussey
Hichens

S
3.

22, 30

Underbill

3'^

26
.
20
22 Hughes

27
20 Hungerford

23
II, 22, 27 Hyne
Davis .
17, i8
18 Ibsen
Dawson (C. A.)
12
.
Dawson (A. J.) . 22 Ingcrsoll
6
10 Irving (H. B.) .
.
De Broglie
i3
Dc Ooncourt . 7 Irving rSir U.)
.
29
8 Jacobsen
.
De Joinville
Jaeger
7
De I^eval .
24
De Quincey
6,13 James (Henry)
26 James /'Lionel) .
.
Dibbs
.
Dixon
25 Keary(E. M.)
.
.
Dowden .
19 Keary (C. F.)
.

27

Keeling

Kennedy

29
18
3'
9
16

Upward
V^andam

Vazoff

N orris

Verrall

Nugent

25
27

li

22, 26

Pendercd

23
9
o
23
32

Pennell

Perry
Phelps

Philips

Pinero

15. '7

Piaed

22

I'rcssense

Pritchard

Push

Viv.iria

Vu'iUier

6
29

Pasolini

Vovnich
16

Waf^ncr
WaliszeWbki

6, 8

Walker

')

23

Ward
Warden
.

Watigh
Weitemeyer
Wells, D. D.
Wells, H. G.
West
Whibley
.

Whistler

7,

White

6 Whitman
24 Wil'Kcn
26, 30 Williams (G.)
22 Williams (E. E
.
26, 30 Wdliams
.

Quine

Kaimond

Rawnsley
Raynor
Rees .
Rembrandt

Renin

Vincent

17
16

'

Valera

Nordau

Pearce
"i<

Dubois

Mailer

Patmore

Hinsdale .
24, 2
Hirsch
.
(Mrs.)
30 Holdsworth
Crane
18, 22, 30, 32 Howard

Dowson

15,

14 0;iilvie
.
32 Oliphant
17 Osbourne .
(Juida.
'9
21 I'aget.
i'alacio-Valdes
7

CracUanthorpe
Crackanthorpe

Tolstoy

Tree
Turgenev
Tyler.

Nicholson

Heaton
j6 Heine
20 Henderson
30 Henley

D'Annunzio
Davidson

Thurston
Tire buck

28, 30

Tasma
Thompson
Thomson
Thomson (Basil)

Tallentyrc

6,

Masson

Murray (D. C.)

[Murray (G.)
20 Napoleon

17, 24

Sutcliffe

Tadema

Moore
'

Marey
Marsh

Monk

Hammar

Colmore

Steuart
Stevenson

Michel
Mitford

Hamilton

Stephen

Maeterlinck
Mailing
.
Malot.

Guyau

Macnab

Maupassant
Maurice
Mcrriman

'

Steel

Maude

Gray (Maxwell)

27 Guerber

Calvert

Carr

Southey

Glasgow

Griffiths

(R.)

Serao .
Sergeant
Shaler
Somerset

ivlcFall

Gras
Greard

Caine

Scudamore
Sedgwick

Lut/.ow (Count)

Mackenzie

Byron
Caine(Hall) 10, 24-

Lowe
Lowry

Gaulot

Cahan

7
13
21
16

Sarcey
Schulz
Scidmore

.
.

28
24

Locke

20 (iolm
13 Gontcharoff
22 Gore .

13. '9

Briscoe

Brown
Brown

18

Landor
Lawson
Le Caron
Loe (Vernoa)

Fitzmaurice-Keliy 19
Fitz Patrick

26, 2b

16

Ferruggia
Fitch

Balestier
J'arneit

3>

23
38
Rives .
Roberts (A von) 29
)i^
Roberts (C. G.
Robins
7
Robinson
23
Riddell

RIchter

Farrar

Ricci

Kiii.ijtu

12

Wood

'5

Wyckoff

26 Zangwill
Zola .
7. 15

z.

25i 26
26, 27

MR. HEINEMANN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THE WORKS OF LORD BYRON.

WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY.

Edited by

TO BE COMPLETED IN TWELVE VOLUMES.

The

Letters, Diaries, Controversies, Speeciies,

and the Verse

Small Cioicn Svo, price

s";.

IS

NOW

Vol. I. LETTERS, 1804-1813.

Wiih

voll'ml:

To
Vol. v.

I.

I'e

in

Four,

net each.

ready.
a Portrait after riiiLi.iPS.

followed by

VERSE VOLUME

L Containing

"

"English Bards and Scotch Reviewer?," and

With a

S^c.,

in Eight.

Hours of Idleness,"
' Childe

Harold."

by Holmes.

Portrait

"]\Ir. W. E. Henley is not only steeped to the lips in Byronic poetry, but he
has also a very familiar acquaintance with the remarkable characters who formed
'the Uyronic set,' and he knows tlie manners and customs of the Regency epoch
to an extent that gives him fuli mastery of his subject. There is originality in
the very form of this edition.
"He manages to give in a few vigorous sentences vivid sketches of the wide

circle of Byron's friends

"The

first

volume

is

and enemies." /'<i// Mali Gazette.

delightfully

handy and the type

excellent."

Andrew Lang.
" These Byron Letters

(Vol. L) Mr. Henley has annotated as never surely

annotated before. His notes provide simply a complete series cf
little biographies miniature biographies with such vital selection,
such concise
completion without dry-as-dustness such interest as no other writer but Mr.
Henley could compass. It may fairly be said that he has discovered a new art,
the art of biographic cameos. ... It is safe to say that henceforth the typical
edition of Byron can never be separated from these not'.-s.
In conclusion, if
Byron has waited long for a heaven-sent editor, iie has him at last."

were

letters

Academy.

"Mr. Henley, so far as elucidation and

equipped." -4 ///if/z^yw-v.'.
.

illustration are concerned, is fully

There will also he an Edition, limited to 150 sets for sale

in Great Britain, printed on Van Geldcr's hand-tnadc
paper, price Six Guineas net, subscriptions
for which are

now

being received.

MR. HEINEMANN'S LIST.

Brt an& 2)ecoration.

FOR
AN ALMANAC OF TWELVE SPORTS
Plates, each

1898.

illustrating a
Twelve Coloured
Rhymes by Rudvard Kii-ling.
sport for the month. With accompanying
T/ie LWrafy Edition all sold.
In Three Editions.
4to.
stout Cartridge Paper.
The Popular Edition. Lithographed in Colours on

By William Nicholson.

Price

IS. td.

(Limited). Printed from the Original \\ oodblocks.

Price
Portfolio.
Hand-coloured. and signed by the Artist. In Vellum

The Edition de Lu.xe

/;i2 I2J. net.

AN ALPHABET.

P.y

William

Niciioi.so.\.

In Three

4^0.

Editions.

The Popular Edition ^s.

j
xr
on Dutch HandThe Library Edition (Limited). Lithographed in Colours
in cloth, Oilt Edge^.
bound
and
paper
brown
on
mounted
Paper,
made
,

Price

\2S. 6d. net.

Printed from the ^"?>^^ "'"'.^^^^^}^(Limited).

Price
Portfolio.
Hand-coloured, and signed by the Artist. In Vellum

The Edition de U^.xe

,2\ net

PORTRAITS BY MR. NICHOLSON

Majesty
.^f IIkr
Row-rts, Mr.
THE Queen, Mad.^.me Sarah Bernhardt, Lord
and Pkinck
Whistler, Mr. Ruuyaru Kipling, Mr. Cecil Rhodes,
on card
Bismarck,' are now supplied separately, mounted

for framing,

price 2i. dd. net each.

* * A fe-w copies of each
Hand JoTredfand signed

Portrait printed from the Original U^oodbj.Kks,

.
by the Artist, are still obtainable. Pr^ce 2

tach net.

A HISTORY OF DANCING:
French
Our Own Times.

From

the

P.ates in Photogravure and 409

Volume, 4to. Pr.ce its. net.

the Earliest

Ages to

Oaston Vuillier.

With 2*

From
of

Illustrations

in

One

In

the Text.

addttt^l
'. Also 35 copies printed on Japanese vellum (containing 3
framing. Each

Platef),7maa duplicate set of the Plates on India

net.
copy numbered and signed, price ;i2 ^2S.

MEISSONIER.

His

Life,

paperfor

and His Art.

By Vallery

from
Grfard, de I'Acadcmie Fra.u;aise. Translated
Ladv Marv Loyd and Florence Simmonds. With 38
20

in Photogr.-ivure

and

.8 in Colour,

and 200 Text

C. O.

the French

by

full-page plates,

Illustrations. Imperial

Bvo, ,1 iOj. net.

His Life, his

ANTONIO ALLEGRI DA CORREGGIO:
the Royal
Director
Friends,

and

his

Time.

By Corrado

Ricci,

Simmonds.

ol

With

16 Photo-

Gallery Parma. Tr.-nsl.ited by Florence

ustrations in the
and 190
gravure Plates, 21 fu 1-page Plates in Tint,
in 14 parts, price 2S. id. each net._
Text. Imperial 8vo, Ji'z 2s. net. Also
. Also a sPeci^xl edition printed onjapanese vellum, limited to 100 C4>Ptt
12*. net.
duplicate plates on India paper. Prtce .12

yvith

MR. HEINEMANN'S LIST.

REMBRANDT

His

Life, his

Work, and

his

By Emile

Time.

Michel, Member of the Institute of France. Translated by Florencb

SiMMONDS. Edited and Prefaced by Frederick Wedmore. Second
Edition, Enlarged, with 76 full-page Plates, and 250 Illustrations in the
Text.

In

One Volume,

Gilt

top,

or in

Two

Volumes, imperial Svo

2S. net.

** A few copies 0/ the Edition de Luxe oJ the First Edition, printed on

Japanese vellum ivith India proof duplicates 0/ the photogravures, are still oh
tale, price ,11 12s.net.

REMBRANDT.

Seventeen of his Masterpieces from the collec-

tion of his Pictures in the Cassel Gallery.

by the Berlin Photographic Company.

Wedmore.

Reproduced in Photogravure
With an Essay by Fredericic

In large portfolio 27J inches x 20 inches.

The first twenty-five impressions 0/ each plate are mitnhered and sighted,
and ofi these only fourteen are for sale in England at the net price oJ Twenty
Guineas the set. Tlie frice
Twelve Guineas net, per set,

ofi

tlu imfiressions after

tlie

first twenty-five

is

MASTERPIECES OF GREEK SCULPTURE. A Series

By Adolf P'urtvvakgler. Authorised
Edited by Eugenie Sellers. With 19 full page and 200

of Essays on the History of Art,

Translation.

text Illustrations.

Imperial 8vo,

,* Also an Edition de
copies in

Two

f,-^

3J. net.

Luxe on Japanese

Volumes, price ^10

vellum, limited to 50 numbered

\os. net.

THE HOURS OF RAPHAEL,

IN OUTLINE.

Together

with the Ceiling of the Hall where they were originally painted.
Mary E. Williams. Folio, cloth. C^ 2s. net.

BEAUTY AND ART.

By Aldam Heato.v.

Crown

By

8vo,

cloth, 6s.

A CATALOGUE OF THE ACCADEMIA DELLE

AT

r.ELLE ART!
VENICE. With Bioeraphical Notices of the
Painters and Reproductions of some of their Works. Edited by E. M.
Keary. Crown 8vo, cloth, is. 6d. net paper, zs. net.
;

A CATALOGUE OF THE MUSEO DEL PRADO AT

MADRID.

Corcpiled by E.

Lawson. Crown

3vo, cloth, jr. net; paper,

2S. 6d. net.

ANIMAL SYMBOLISM
ARCHITECTURE. By

IN

ECCLESIASTICAL

E. P. Evans.

Seventy-eight Illustrations, crown 8vo, 9i

With a Bibliography and

JMK.

NEW LETTERS

IIEJNEMANN'S

OF NAPOLEON

Edition published under

from the French by

LIST.

I.

Omitted from the

the au>-pi..es of Napoleon

Lady Makv Lovd.

In

Translated

III.

One Volume, deny

8vo, with

Frontispiece, price 15J. net.

THE PAGET PAPERS.

pondence of

and

Diplom.-itic

The Right Hon. SIR

CorresCCI?., 1794-

other

ARTHUR PAGET,

With two Appendices, iSoS and 1323-1S29. Arranged and Edited

The Right Hon. Sir Augustus B. Paget, G C.B., late Her
Majesty's Ambassador in Vienna. With Notes by Mrs. J. R. Green,
1807.

1)y his son,

New

Edition with Index.

In

Two

Volu.iies,

demy

Svo, with Portraits,

32J. net.

DE QUINCEY MEMORIALS.
Records here

WoRDSWORTiis,

Beins

Hannah More, Professor Wilson,

with Introduction, Notes, and Narrative, by

F.R.S.E.

In

Letters and other

Published, with Communications from Coleridge, the

first

Two

Volumes, demy Svo,

and others.

Alexander H.

Edited

Japp, LL.D.,

cloth, with Portraits, 30J. net.

LETTERS OF SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE.

Edited by
trations.

Ernest Hartley Coleridge. With

Two Volumes, demy Svo, jC^ izJ.

THE LIFE OF NELSON.

New

16 Portraits

and

Illus-

In

By Robert

Soutiif.y.

Edited by David Hannay.

Crown Svo, gilt, with
Portraits of Lord Nelson after Hoppner and Lady Hamilton afiei
Edition.

RoMNEY,

price 6s.

ROBERT, EARL NUGENT.

Nugent.

Demy

Svo, with a

number of

Memoir.

Poitraits

Illustra-

[In prepai-atioii.

tions.

THE LIFE OF JUDGE JEFFREYS.

M.A. Oxon. Demy

Svo, with

PETER THE GREAT.

"The Romance

Ey Claud

and other

By

II.

B.

Three Portraits and a Facsimile,

By K.

of an Empress," "

Irving,
12^.6</. net,

^YAI.ISZE^vsKI, Author of

The Story

of a Throne." Translated
from the French by Lady Mary Loyd. With a Portrait. Svo, cloth, ts. ;
or Library Edition, in Two Volumes, Svo, zSf.

CARDINAL MANNING.
PsESSENS^ by E. Ingall.

From

Crown

the French of

Svo, 5X.

Francis db

MR HEINEMANN S

LIST.

THE PALMY DAYS OF NANCE OLDFIELD.

Edward

With Twelve

Robins.

SAW

AS OTHERS
Svo, gilt top

HIM. A

and

SISTER. A Memoir and

HENRIETTE RENAN. Translated

Demy

LoYD.

down

Retrospect, A.D, 54.

6s.

BROTHER AND
ERNEST

By

Illustrations, Svo.

Svo,

Two

with

the Letters of
by Lady Mary

Photogravure, and Four

Portraits in

Illustrations, 145.

CHARLES GOUNOD.

Autobiographical Reminiscences with

Family Letters and Notes on Music. Translated by the Hon.

Hutchinson. Deray Svo, with Portrait, jos. 6d.

MEMOIRS.
mann).

By Charles Godfrey Leland (Hans Breit-

Second Edition.

Svo, with Portrait, price

-js. 6(i.

EDMOND AND JULES DE GONCOURT.

Leaves from their Journals.
Eight Portraits, 325.

ALEXANDER
M.A.,

W. Hely

III.

Aull-.or of

Two

In

Selected.

OF RUSSIA.

Letters

By Charles Lowe,

"Prince Bismarck: an Historical Biography."

Svo, with Portrait

iii

Photogravure,

PRINCE BISMARCK.
Charles Lowe, M.A. With

Italian

Crown

ts.

An

Biography.

Historical

Portraits.

Crown

Svo,

CATHERINE SFORZA. A
Adapted from the

and

Volumes, Svo, with

Study.
By
by Paul Sylvester.

By:-

6j.

Count Pasolini^
Demy

Svo, with many.-

\In j>reparation.

lUustrations.

VILLIERS DE L'ISLE ADAM:

His Life and Works;.

From the French of Vicomte Robert du Pontavice de Heussev.
By Lady Mary Loyd. With Portrait and Facsimile. Crown Svo, cloth,

10^. 6d.

THE LIFE OF HENRIK

IBSEN.

By Henrik J^ger.

With the Verse done into English from the

Norwegian Original by Edmund Gosse. Crown Svo, cloth, ts.

Translated by

Clara Bell.

RECOLLECTIONS OF MIDDLE
Sarcey.

Translated by E. L. Carey.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
The

Recollections of a Spy.

Preface.

IN

LIFE. By Francisque

Svo, with Portrait, loy. dd.

THE SECRET SERVICE.

By Major Henri le Caron.

Svo, boards, price 2S. td., or cloth, 31.

The Lil/rajy Edition, with Portraits and Facsimiles,

en

New

Zvo, 14J., is still

sale.

STUDIES IN FRANKNESS,
Crown

With

(>d.

By Charles

Svo. with Fronti'spiece, price is. td.

Whiblev.

MR. IIEINEMANN'S LIST.

A BOOK OF SCOUNDRELS.
Crown

Dy Charles Whibley.

8vo, with Frontispiece, price 7^. 6d.

GREAT

AND EVENTS.

LIVES

Uniformly bound

in

cloth,

6s.

SIXTY YEARS OF EMPIRE:

With over 70

the Period.

each volume.

1837-1S97.

Review of

and Diagrams.

Portraits

RECOLLECTIONS OF COUNT LEO TOLSTOY.

Together with a Letter to the Women of France on the " Kreutzer
Sonata." By C. A. Reiirs.
Translated from the Russian by
E.
Turner, English Lecturer in the University of St Petersburg. With

Portrait.

THE FAMILY LIFE OF HEINRICH HEINE.

Illus-

by one hundred and twenty-two hitherto unpublished letters addressed by him to dilTcrent members of his family. Edited by his nephew.
Baron Ludwig von Embden, and translated by Charles Godfrey
Leland. With 4 Portraits.
trated

THE NATURALIST OF THE SEA-SHORE.

of

Philip

Henry Gosse.

By

Trinity College, Cambridge.

his

Edmlnd

son,

With a

The Life
Gosse, Hon. M.A.,

Portrait.

MEMOIRS OF THE PRINCE DE JOINVILLE.

Mary

Translated from the French by Lady

from drawings by the Author.

Loyd.

ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON. A

By Arthur Waugh,

Work.

E..\.

Oxon.

from Photographs specially taken for

Facsimile of Tennyson's MS.

this

NAPOLEON AND THE FAIR

of pRliDiiP.ic

Masson.

With a

78 Illustrations

Study of His Life and

With Twenty Illustrations

Work.

SEX.

Five Portraits, and

From

the French

Portrait.

PETER THE GREAT.

from the French by Lady

With

By K. Waliszewski.
Mary Loyd. With a Portrait,

Translated

THE STORY OF A THRONE.

From

the French of K.

Waliszewski.

Catherine IL of Russia.
With a Portrait.

THE ROMANCE OF AN EMPRESS.

Russia.

From

the French of

K. Waliszewski.

Catherine IL of
With a Portrait.

A FRIEND OF THE QUEEN.

Count Fcrsen.

From

the French of

Marie Antoinette and

Paul Gaulot. Two Portraits.

MR. HEINEMANN'S LIST.

THE WOMEN OF HOMER.

With numerous

Perry.

By Walter CoriAND

Illustrations, large

crown 8vo,

THE LOVE LETTERS OF MR.

Edited by Gilbert Burgess.

1775-1779.

LETTERS OF A BARITONE.
Square crown 8vo,

H.

Square crown 8vo,

R.

sj.

By Fran'Cis Walker.

5^.

LETTERS OF A COUNTRY VICAR.

Yves le Querdec.

the French of

6s,

AND MISS

Translated from

By M. Gordon Holmes.

Crowa

Svo, Si.

ISRAEL AMONG THE NATIONS.

French of

Crown

Institute of France.

Svo, js. 6d.

THE JEW AT HOME.

Autumn Spent
With

Translated from the

Anatole Leroy-Beaulieu, Member of the

with

Illustrations

Him

Impressions of a Summer and

By Joseph Pennell.

Austria and Russia.

in

by the Author.

THE NEW EXODUS. A

Harold Fkederic. Demy

4to, cloth, 5^

Study of

Israel in

Russia.

By

Svo, Illustrated, i6s.

SPANISH PROTESTANTS IN THE SIXTEENTH

CENTURY,

Compiled from Dr. Wilken's German Work. By Rachef.

With an Introduction by the Most Rev. Lord Plunket,
late Archbishop of Dublin, and a Preface by the Rev. Canon Fleming.
Crown Svo, 4^. (xi. net.

Challice.

QUEEN JOANNA
JERUSALEM

I.

OF NAPLES, SICILY, AND

Countess of Provence, Forcalquier, and Piedmont. An

Essay on her Times. By St. Clair Baddelev. Imperial Svo, with

numerous

Illustrations, i6s.

CHARLES

III.

OF NAPLES AND URBAN

CECCO D'ASCOLI, Poet, Astrologer,

By

St. Clair Baddeley.

With

Physican.

Two

Illustrations, Svo, cloth, loj. 6ti.

ROBERT THE WISE AND HIS HEIRS,

By

St. Clair Baddeley.

An Englishman

1278-1352.

Svo, 21J.

MY PARIS NOTE-BOOK.
of "

VI.; also

Historical Essay?.

in Paris."

By Albert D. Vandam, Author

Demy

Svo, price dr.

UNDERCURRENTS OP THE SECOND EMPIRE.

By Albert

D.

Vandam.

Demy

Svo, cbth, js. 6d. net.

A2

MR. IIEINEMANN'S LIST.

STUDIES IN DIPLOMACY.
Ambassador

By Count Benedetti, French

Demy 8vo, wr.h a Portrait, lof. 6i/.

at the Court of Berlin.

AN AMBASSADOR OF THE VANQUISHED.

Viscount Elie

De

Gontaut-P.iron's Mission to Berlin, 1871-1877.

From

and Memoranda. By the Duke de Broglie. Translated

with Notes by Albert D. Vandam. In One Volume, 8vo, 10s. (>d.
his Diaries

A HISTORY OF THE LIVERPOOL PRIVATEERS,

and Letters of Marque; with an account of the Liverpool Slave Trade.
By GoMER Williams. In One Volume, demy Svo, price 12s. net.

THE CASTLES OF ENGLAND

By
to

their Story and Structure,

Jamks D. Mackenzie, Birt. Dedicati;d by gracious permission
H.M. ihe Queen. In Two Volumes, Lnperial Svo, with 40 full-pa^c

Plates,

Sir

and over 150

Illustrations in

the

Text and

m.-\ny Plans.

Pric9

3^. net.

KRUPP'S STEEL WORKS.

Wilh

88 Illustrations.

By

Professor F. C. G.

Authorised Translation.

THE LITTLE MANX NATION.

the Royal Institution, 1S91.)
man," " The Scapegoat," &c.

DENMARK:

History,

its

Muller.

4to, price 25^. net.

(Lectures delivered at
of "The Bond-

By Hall Caine, Author

Crown

Svo, cloth, ^s.

6c/.;

paper,

2^. 6<i.

Topography, Language, Literature.

Edited by H. Weitemeyer. Demy

Fine Arts, Social Life, and Finance.

Svo, cloth, with Map, 12s. d.

*,* Dedicated, by f-ermission, to H.R.II. the Princess 0/ Wales.

THE REALM OF THE HABSBURGS.

Whit.man, Author

of

" Imperial Germany."

IMPERIAL GERMANY.
Character.

Crown

Critical

By Sidney Whitman. New

Svo, cloth,

2.r. 6(/.;

paper,

Crown

By Sidney

Svo, 7^. dd.

Study of Fact and

Edition, Revised and Enlarged.

is.

THE GENESIS OF THE UNITED STATES. A

in England, 1605-1616, which resulted in the
Plantation of North America by ICnglishmen, disclosing the Contest
between England and Spain for the Possession of the Soil now occupied
by the United States of America; set forth through a series of Historical
I^Ianuscripts now first printed, together with a Re-issae of Rare Contem-

Narrative of the Movement

poraneous Tracts, accompanied by Bibliographical Memoranda, Notes,

and Brief Biographies. Collected, Airanged, and Edited by Alexander
Brown, F.R.H.S. With 100 Portraits, Maps, and Plans. In Two Volumes,
royal Svo, buckram, ;C3 '3*'

^-

n***

ii;;?.

HEINEMANN'S

LIST.

travel auD HDventure.

THE INDIAN FRONTIER WAR.

Being an Account of
RIohmund and Tirah Expeditions, 1S97. By Lionel James, Special
Correspondent for Renter's Agency and Artist for the Graphic. With 32
full-page Illustrations from Drawings by the Author, and Photographs,
the

and 10 Plans and Maps.

CUBA

IN

8vo, price 7^. td,

WARTIME.

By Richard Harding Davis, Author

of " Soldiers of Fortune."

Remington.

Crown

With numerous

8vo, price

3J.

UNDER THE DRAGON

MY FOURTH TOUR
By Albert

F.

INDIA.

Demy

Experiences

Crown

in

Svo, 2j.

with

many

Illustrations

Ciif.vrillon.

Marchant.

THE OUTGOING TURK.

Price

410,

By Andre

from the French by William

Campaign."

My

and

net.

2i.<-.

the Western Balkans.

by Frederic

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

IN

Calvert, F.R.G.S.

Photographs, price

ROMANTIC

FLAG.

By James Allan.

War.

the Chino- Japanese

Illustrations

dd.

By H.

Svo,

7^.

Translated

kd. net.

Impressions of a Journey through

Thomson, Author of "The Chitrali

C.

Svo, with Illustrations from Original Photographs...

14J. net.

THE CHITRAL CAMPAIGN. A

Narrative of Events im

By H.

C. Thomson. With over so lUustra-^

tions reproduced from Photographs, and important Diagrams and Map.
Chitral, Swat,

and Bajour.

Second Edition, demy Svo,

14J. net.

WITH THE ZHOB FIELD FORCE,

Crawford McFall, K.O.Y.L.I.

Demy

THE LAND OF THE MUSKEG.

Second Edition.

Demy

Svo, with

1890.

By

Captaim,

Svo, with Illustrations,

18s,.

By H. Somers Somerset;,

Maps and overioo

Illustrations, 280 pp.,.

14 J. net.

TIMBUCTOO THE MYSTERIOUS.

Translated from the French by
from Photographs and Drawings
Plans.

Demy

made on

With 153 Illustrations

the spot, and Eleven Maps and

8v'o, i2.y. td.

RHODESIA PAST AND PRESENT.

In

By Felix Dubois.

Diana White.

One Volume,

By

THE NEW AFRICA, A Journey up the Chob^

Okovanga
C..

Du

S. J.
Svo, with Sixteen full-page Illustrations, 7J. td.

Rivers.

ToiT,

and down the

By Aurel Schulz, M.D., and August Hammar,

In One Volume,

Demy

Svo, with Illustrations, 2&1.

MR. IJEINEMANN'S L[ST.

ACTUAL AFRICA

or,

The Coming

With Map and over loo

Elephant,"

Continent.

By Frank Vincent, Author

Exploration.

"The Land

of

demy

Illustrations,

Tour

of the

of

White

8vo, cloth, price

24J.

COREA, OR CHO-SEN, THE LAND OF THE MORNING

C.'\LM.

Ey

A.

Henky Savage-Landor.

NOTES FOR THE NILE.

Rendering of the

Hymns

hotep (the oldest book

Imperial i6mo, cloth,

of Ancient

in the world).

With

demy

from Drawings by the Author, and a Portrait,

Together
Egypt and

3S Iilustraiioiis

8vo, iSs.

with

Metrical

of the Precepts of

Pt.-ih-

By Hardwicke D. Rawnslev, M.A.

5^.

IN THE TRACK OF THE SUN.

Readings from the Diary

By Freijerick Diodati Thompson. With many

by Mr. Harry Fenn and from Photographs. 4to, 25*.

of a Globe-Trotter.
Illustrations

THE WORKERS.
By Walter

A.

An

Wyckoff.

Experiment
Crown

in

THE CANADIAN GUIDE-BOOK.

and Sportsman's Guide

to

Reality.

The

East.

8vo, price 3^. 6d.

Part

The

Tourist's

EasternCanadaand Newfoundland, including

full

Summer Resorts, Fishing

Places, &c., in Eastern Ontario, The Muskoka District, The St. Lawrence
Region, The Lake St. John Country, The Maritime Provinces, Prince

descriptions of Routes, Cities, Points of Interest,

JEdward

Island,

and Newfoundland.

With an Appendix giving Fish and

Game Laws, and Official Lists of Trout and Salmon Rivers and their
Lessees. By Charles 0. D. Roberts, Professor of English Literature in
With Maps and many Illustrations.
King's College, Windsor, N.S.
Crown

8vo, limp cloth, 6s.

THE CANADIAN GUIDE-BOOK.

Canada.

Part

II.

Western

Including the Peninsula and Northern Regions of Ontario,

the Canadian Snores of the Great Lakes, the

Lake

of the

Woods Region,

Manitoba and "The Great North- West," The Canadian Rocky Mountains
and National Park, British Columbia, and Vancouver Island. By Ernest
Incersoll. With Maps and many

Illustrations.

Crown

8vo, limp cloth, 6j.

THEGUIDE-BOOK TO ALASKA AND THE NORTHWEST COAST,

including the Shores of Washington, British Columbia,

South-Eastetn Alaska, the Aleutian and the Sea

and the Arctic Coasts.

Illustrations.

Crown

By

E. R. Scidmorb.

8\ o, limp cloth, 6.

Islands, the Behring

With Maps and many

MR. HEINEMANN'S LIST.

13

Bssaps au& Belles Xettres,

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

dc.

Critical

Slu.ly.

By

George Brandes, Ph.D. Translated from the DaiiUli by William

Archer, Diana White, and Mary Morison. In Ttto Volumes, rox
burgh, gilt top, or buckram uncut, demy 8v'o, 24^.

SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY STUDIES. A

CorUri!.ii-

History of English Poetry. By Edmund Gosse, Clark

Lecturer on English Literature at the University of Cambridge
Hon.
M.A. of Trinity College, Cambridge, A New Edition. Crown 8vo,

tion to the

buckram,

gilt top, ys. td.

CRITICAL KIT-KATS. By
buckram,

QUESTIONS AT ISSUE.
Crown

Ed.mund Gosse.

Svo,

Essays.

By Edmund Gosse.

8vo, buckram, gilt top, ys. 6i.

**

Limited Edition on Large Paper,

GOSSIP IN A LIBRARY.
Edition.

By George Saintsbury.

ANIMA POET.^.
Taylor Coleridge.

Crown

Gosse.

Third

25J. net,

Essays on Victorian Writers,

Bvo, gilt top,

From the unpublished

Edited by

251. net.

By Edmund

Crown 8vo, buckram, gilt top, 7^. 6d.

** A Limited Edition on Large Paper,

CORRECTED IMPRESSIONS.

Bvo,

Crown

gilt top, ys. i>d.

7^. 6</.

note-books of Samuel
Crown

Ernest Hartley Coleridge.

7^. 6^.

ESSAYS. By Arthur CuRiSToriiER Benson,

Crown

8vo,

buckram,

ys.

of

Eton College.

6d.

A COMMENTARY ON THE WORKS OF HENRIK

IBSEN. By Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen. Crown

8vo, cloth, ys. 6d. net.

THE POSTHUMOUS WORKS OF THOMAS DE

QUINCEY.
Original

Edited, with Introduction and Notes from the Author's

MSS., by Alexander H. Japp, LL.D., F.R.S.E., &c. Crown

Bvo, cloth, 6s. each.

I.

II.

SUSPIRIA DE PROFUNDIS. With other Essays,

CONVERSATION AND COLERIDGE. With other
Essays.

MR. HEINEMANN'S LIST.

,4

THE PROSE WORKS OF HEINRICH HEINE.

by Chari.i;s Godfrey Lelaxd, M.A., F.R.L.S. (Hans
Breitmann). In Eight Volumes.
The Library Edition, in crown 8vo, cloth, at 5^. per Volume. Each Volume of
The Cabinet Edition, in special binding,
this edition is sold separately.
Translated

boxed, price -2

Numbered

10s.

the set.

The

L.-\rge

Volume
Complete Work.

Copies, price 15s. per

subscribers for the

Paper Edition, limited

to 50

net, will only be supplied to

FLORENTINE NIGHTS, SCIINABELEWOPSKI,

THE RABBI OF BACHARACH, and SHAKESPEARE'S MAIDENS AND WOMEN.
1823-1828.
II., III. PICTURES OF TRAVEL.

IV.

THE SALON.
and

v., VI.

Music,

Letters on Ait,

GERMANY.
FRENCH AFFAIRS.

Letters from

VIII.

VII.,

Popular

Life,

Politics.

Paris

and Lutetia.

1832,

THE COMING TERROR.

By Robert Buchanan.

And other Essays and Letters.

Second Edition. Demy Svo, cloth, 12s. 6d.

THE GENTLE ART OF MAKING ENEMIES.

As

pleasingly exemplified in many instances, wherein the serious ones of

earth, carefully exasperated, have been prettily spurred on to
this
indiscretions and unseemliness, while overcome by an undue sense
By J, M'Neill Whistler. A New Edition.
of right.
[in preparation.
first

edition remain, price

AMERICA AND THE AMERICANS.

From a French

A few

copies of the large paper issue of the

{,\ \is. 6d. net.

Point of View.

"

MADE

Crown

In one volume.

GERMANY."

IN

Svo,

y.

(>J.

Reprinted with Additions from

Crown Svo, cloth, -is. 6d.

Rcviciv. By Ernest E. Williams.

Also Popular Edition, paper covers, u.
T/ie

New

THE FOREIGNER

IN

E. Williams, Author of

THE FARMYARD.
"Made

in

Germany."

THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

Richard

T. Ely, Ph.D., Associate

University.

Crown

Svo, cloth,

5i.

in

IN

Pohtical

Crown

By Ernest
Svo,

2J.

&/.

AMERICA.

By

Economy, Johns Hopkini

MR. HEINEMANN'S LIST.

PARADOXES.

By Max NordAU, Author

"Conventional Lies

With

McIlraith.

Demy

Edition.

15

of " Degeneration,"

cur Civilisation," &c. Translated by J. R.

an Introduction by the Author written for this
cf

Svo, 17^.

>:(t.

CONVENTIONAL LIES OF OUR CIVILIZATION.

By Wax Norhau,

Demy

author of " Degeneration."

Second English Edition.

Svo, lys. net.

DEGENERATION.
Demy

Edition.

By Max Nordau.

Ninth

Eng'i.k

8vo, t;s. net.

GENIUS AND DEGENERATION A Psychological Study.

:

By

Dr.

Demy

William Hiksch.

Translated from the Second

German

Edition.

Svo, tjs. net.

THE NON-RELIGION OF THE FUTURE.

French of

Marie Jean Cuvau.

In

One Volume, demy

STUDIES OF RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

Renan,

late of the

French Academy.

From

By Ernest

Svo, 7^. 6J.

THE PASSION PLAY AT OBERAMMERGAU,

By

F.

W. Farrar, D.D.,

F.R.S.,

the

Svo, 17^. net.

Dean

i8go.

of Canterbury, &c. &c.

no,

cloth, 2S. 6d.

THE WORD OF THE LORD UPON THE WATERS.

Sermons read by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Germany, while
Sea on his Voyages to tlie Land of the Midnight Sun. Composed by
Army Chaplain, and Translated from the German by Johm
R. McIlraith. 4to, cloth, 2s. 6d.

at

Dr. RiCHTER,

THE KINGDOM

GOD

OF

WITHIN

IS

Count Leo Tolstoy.

Garnett.

Popular Edition cloth,

THE SPINSTER'S
Raynor.

Narrow crown

2s.

SCRIP.

6d,

As

Svo, limp cloth,

2s.

Compiled

Myra Hamilton. With

THE POCKET

a Portrait.

by

Cecil

6d.

THE PINERO BIRTHDAY BOOK.

by

YOU.

New

Theory of Life. By
Translated from the Russian by Constancb

Christianity not as a Mystic Religion but as a

Selected and arranged

i6mo, cloth,

IBSEN. A

2s. 6J.

Collection of some of the Master's

best known Dramas, condensed, revised, and slightly rearranged for the
benefit of the Earnest Student. By F. Anstey, Author of " Vice Versa,"
"Voces Populi," &c. With Illustrations reproduced, by permission,
from Punch, and a new Frontispiece by Bernard Partridge, New
Edition.

i6mo, cloth,

3^. (tJ.

or paper, 2s. 6d.

MR. HEINEMANN'S LIST.

i6

FROM W^ISDOM COURT.

and

Sii;iMiEN

K. CoL'KiioiN.

WOMAN THROUGH
Malcolm

Salaman.

C.

8vo, cloth, 3J.

By Henry Seton Merriman

OuAiiAM Tai.lentvre.
Crown 8vo, cloth, 3J. 6/.

61/.

or

With 30

A MAN

With

STORIES OF GOLF.

EYEGLASS.

IlUi^trations

boards,

pictir.'e

Illustratior.s

by

or piclure boards, 2s.

hy

Dudley

By
Crown

IIaruv.

3s.

Collec'.ed l.y

William Knight and

With Rhymes on Golf by various hands

speare on Golf, &c. Enlarged Edition.
Fcap. Svo, cloth,
T. T. Oliphant.

also

2J.

Shake-

dd.

THE ROSE A

Treatise on the Cultivation, History, Family

Groups of Roses. With Accurate
now Generally Grown. By H. B. Eli-With an Introduction by George H. Ellw.\n<;er. i2mo,
:

Characteristics, &c., of the various

Description of the Varieties

WANGER.
cloth, 5J.

THE GARDEN'S STORY;

or, Pleasures and Trials of an

Amateur Gardener. By G. H. Ellwanger. With an Introduction by the
Rev. C. Wollev Dod. i2mo, cloth, wiih Illustrations, sj.

GIRLS AND WOMEN.

2j. 6</.,

or gilt extra, 3^.

By

E.

DRIVING FOR PLEASURE;

its

Appointnieiits.

l!y

or,

Tut Svo, cloth,

The Harness

Francis T. Unrerhill.

Hundred and Twenty-four

sides, leather back,

Chcster.

(:id.

full

page

Plates.

Stal)le

Idustrated with

Imperial Svo,

ami
One

buckram

ice 2^-. net.

Contents. What Constitutes Good Form in Equipage General Appointments Cc aching Four-in-hand Tandem Horses Coachmen Harness and
Harnessing Driving Liveries, Horse Clothing, etc. The Stab'e .Suggestions
to the Inexperienced Bits and Bitting
The Use of Bearing Reins Carnages,

MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND OBSERVANCES:

Origin and Signific.iiiun.

By Leoiold W.^gner,

THE GREAT WAR OF

Crown

Tlici/

Svo, s.

189-.
Forecast.
By RearAdmiral CoLo.MB, Col. Maurice, R.A., Captain Maude, ARcmuALii
FoKUES, Charles Lowe, D. Christie Murray, and F. Scud.\moi<e.
Second Edition. In One Volume, large Svo, with numerous lUus
trations, dr.

MR. HEINEMANN'S LIST.

17

IDramatic Xiteratuve.

CYRANO DE BERGERAC. A

Play in Five Act-.

By
Trandated from the P>ench by Gladys ThumasGuili.emard. Small 410, 55.

Edmon'd RosTANn.
and

Mary

K.

THE PLAYS OF W. E. HENLEY AND

SON. Crown 8vo, cloth.
or feparatelv, i6mo. cloth,

R. L.

Edition of 250 copies only, luf.

6d. each, or raper, u". 6./.

DEACON BRODIE.
BEAU AUSTIN.
:

'r cloth,

2.r.

6</.

net,

ADMIRAL GUINEA.

MACAIRE.

THE PLAYS OF ARTHUR W. PINERO.

ij. t.i.

STEVEN-

An
2S.

6J. each.

Paper covers,

AMAZONS.
THE NOTORIOUS MRS. EBB-

THE TIMES
THE PROFLIGATE.
SMITH.
THE CABINET MINISTER
THE BENEFIT OF THR
THE HOBBY HORSE.
DOUBT,
LADY BOUNTIFUL.
THE SECOND
THE MAGISTRATE.
MRS. TANQUERAY.
DANDY DICK.
This play can be had in LibSWEET LAVENDER.
THE SCHOOL-MISTRESS. rary form, 4to, cloth. With a Portr.nt
of the Author.
THE WEAKER SEX.
THE PRINCESS AND THE BUTTERFLY.
THE PLAYS OF HENRIK IBSEN. Sma;i 410, clolh 55,
each.
each, or paper covers,
"THE MASTER BUILDER.
JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN.
'HEDDA GABLER.
LITTLE EYOLF.
.j.^g

*^,*

i,r.

61/.

Aho a

BRAND A

Liiiiiied

Large Paper Edition,

i\s.

r.-.t.

Henrik

Dramatic Poem

liy
in Five Act.s.
Ibsen.
Translated in the original metres, wiih an Introduction and Notes, by
Small 4to, cloth, 7^-. bd.
C. H. Herford.
:

THE PLAYS OF GERHART HAUPTMANN.

covers.

If. i>d.,

or cloth, is. td. each.

HANNELE,
THE WEAVERS.

LONELY

Paper

LIVES.

[/ pte/'aration.

Also small 410, with Portrait,

THE PRINCESS MALEINE

is.

A Drama in Five Acts

.and THE INTRUDER: A Drama
:

(Translated by Gerard Harry),

One Act. By Maurice Maeterlinck. With an Introduction by
Caine, and a Portrait of the Author. Small 4t<), clolh, ^s.

iiv

Hall

THE FRUITS OF ENLIGHTENMENT: A

Comedy ia
Four Acts. By Count LvoF Tolstoy. Translated from fhe Russian by
E. J. Dillon. With Introduction by A. W, Pinero. Small 4to, wilb
Portra.t, 5s.

KING ERIK; A

Tragedy.

By Edmund Gosse.

with a Critical Introduction by Mr.

boards, 5s. net.

U'hlodore Watts.

THE PIPER OF HAMELIN: A

Acts.

By Robert

Bucha.s.\n.

With

Fantastic
by

Iilu:,irations

Re-issue^
Fcap.

Opera

Hugh

in

8vo,

Two-

Tho.mson.

4to, cloth, 2j. 6d. net.

HYPATIA.

Founded on Charles
Play in F(iUr Acts.
By G. Stuart Oc.ii.vik. With Frontispiece hy
Ciown fvo, cloth, printtd in Red and Black, is. dd. net.

KiKGSLEv's Novel.
J. D. Batte.n.

MR.

l8

IIEL\'

EM ANN'S

THE DRAMA: ADDRESSES.

by

I'ortruit

J.

McX. Whistler.

Modern

An

Siagc.

By Henry Irving.

Second Edition.

Fcap. 8vo,

Address delivered

6ii.

THE

Playgoers' Club at St.

to the

By Hkrbert

James's Hall, on Sunday, 6ih December, 1S91.

Tree. Crowii Svo, sewed, 6ii. net.

Wiih
35-.

OF

FALLACIES

INTERESTING

SOME

LIST.

Beerboii.m

IPoetiw

POEMS FROM THE DIVAN OF HAFIZ.

Gektkide Lowthia.n

from the Persian by

Translated

Small crown Svo

Bi;li..

price 6s.

THE POETRY OF WILFRID BLUNT.

Selected and
With an Intro-

W. E. Heni.ev and George Wyndii.\m.

W. E. Henley. Crown Svo, price 6s.

arranged by
duction by

ON VIOL AND FLUTE.

with Frontisiiiece

..iid

By Edmund Gosse.

Tailpiece, price

FIRDAUSI IN EXILE,
Gosse.

Fc.ip. 3vo,

3J.

By Edmlnd

and other Poems.

with Frontispiece, price

31. 6if. net.

RUSSET AND SILVER. POEMS.

IN

Gosse.

Aullior of

'

Gossip in a Library,"

Fcap. Svo,

6J. net.

By Euml'.nd

Fcap

etc.

Svo, price ^s.

6ii.

net.

THE POETRY OF PATHOS AND DELIGHT.

From

Passages selected by Alice Mevof Coventry Patmore.

With a Photogravure Portrait from an Oil Painting by John
Svo,
Fcap.
A.R.A.
51.
Sargent,

the

Works

NELL.

A CENTURY OF
the German
edges, 3;. 6J.

by

GERMAN

LYRICS.

Translated from

Kaie Fkeilu.kath Kkoeker.

Fcap. Svo, rough

LOVE SONGS OF ENGLISH POETS,

1500-1800.

With Notes by Ralph il. Caine, Fcap. Svo, rovigh edges,

*4* Large Paper Edition, limited to 100 Copies, 10s. 6d.

IN

CAP AND GOWN.

Edited by

and a Frontispiece, crow:i

IVY

Three Centuries

Charles WiiinLEY. Third

Svo,

3.?.

.\uthor of

E-->teUe,"

&c. &c.

Crane, Author
3i.

Poems.

i2mo, cloth,

lamo,

By

By Gerard
3^. 6d.

cloth, 3^. 67.

C.

Amy

D.uvso.n.

By St. Ci.air IUddei.rv.

Svo

\s.

THE BLACK RIDERS.

tcp,

Introduction,

gilt top, 5^.

TENNYSON'S GRAVE.
paper,

New

6d. net.

VERSES. By Gertrude Hall.

IDYLLS OF WOMANHOOD.
Fcap. Svo,

Cambridge Wit.

Edition, with a

FLOWER
AND PASSION
"

Bendall,

of

3^. 61/.

net.

net.

of ''The

And Other

Red Badge

Lines.

of Courage.'

By Stephen
i6mo, leather,

gilt

MR.

HEINEMANNS

LIST.

rg

3&ucation anC) Science;

LITERATURES OF THE WORLD.

A SERIES OF SHORT HISTORIES.
Edited by

EDMUND

Each Volume Large Crown

GOSSE.

Svo, Cloth 6s.

A HISTORY OF ANCIENT GREEK LITERATURE.

By Gilbert Murray, M.A., Professor

of

Greek

in the

University

of Glasgow.

A HISTORY OF FRENCH LITERATURE.

By

DowDEN,

Edward

and English

D.C. L., LL.D., Professor of Oratory

Literature in the University of Dublin.

AHISTORY OF MODERN ENGLISH LITERATURE.

By

the Editor,

Hon.

iSI.A.

of Trinity College, Cambridge.

A HISTORY OF ITALIAN LITERATURE.

Garnett,
Museum.

C. B.,

By Richard

LL.D., Keeper of Printed Books

in the Br.tish

A HISTORY OF SPANISH LITERATURE.

By

J.

Fnz-

maukice-Kelly, Corresponding Member of the Spanish Academy.

The foUoii'iiig arc already ananzed / r
:

A HISTORY OF JAPANESE LITERATURE.

William George
at the British

By

Asro.v, C.M.G., M.A., late Acting Secretary

at Tokio.

Legation

AHISTORY OF MODERN SCANDINAVIAN LITERATURE.

Ey George Braxdes, of Copenhagen.

A HISTORY OF SANSKRIT LITERATURE.

A. A. Macdonell, M.A., Deputy Boden Professor
at the University of O.xford.

By

of Sanskrit

A HISTORY OF HUNGARIAN LITERATURE.

By

Dr. ZOLTAN BeoTHY, Professor of Hungarian Literature at the

University of Budapest, and Secretary of tlie Kisfaludy Society.

A HISTORY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE.

fessor

By

Pro-

Moses Coit Tyler.

A HISTORY OF GERMAN LITERATURE. By Dr.

C H. Herford, Professor of English Literature in
University
tlie

of Wales.

A HISTORY OF LATIN LITERATURE.

Verr.^ll, Fellow
Cambridge.

and

Senior

Tutor

of

By Dr. A. W.

Trinity

College,

A HISTORY OF BOHEMIAN LITERATURE.

By

Francis Count Lltzow.

Volumes dealing with Russian, Arabic,

and other Literatures

Dutch, Modern Greek,

will follow in due course.

MR. IIEINEMANN'S LIST.

XTbc Great Educators.

Series of Volumes by Einitieni Writers, prcsentiiii^ in their

entirety ''A Biographical History of Education.'^

Each

subject will furin a complete volume,

Xoxu

crown Svo,

ARISTOTLE,

and the Ancient Educational

Thomas Davidson, M.A., LL.D.

The Times.

LOYOLA,

^s.

retuiy.

"A very readable sketch of a very

Ideals.

By

interesting subject."

and the Educational System

of the Jesuits.

By

Rev. Tiio.MAS Hughes, S.J.

ALCUIN,

and the

Rise of the Christian

Andrew

West, Ph.D.

Professor

F.

FROEBEL, and Education

noi'E

Schools.

by Self- Activity. By

II.

By

CoaRT-

BowEN, M.A.

ABELARD,
versities.

and the Origin and Early History of UniBy Jules Gabriel Compayrb, Professor in the Fac\iliy of

Toulouse.

HERBART AND THE HERBARTIANS.

By Charles

DE Garmo, Ph.D.

THOMAS AND MATTHEW ARNOLD,

and

their In-

fluence on English Education. By Sir Joshua Fitch, M.A., LL.D.,

furnierly Her Majesty's Inspector of Training; Colleges.

HORACE MANN,
the United States.

ROUSSEAU

Common

and the
By

B. A.

School Revival in

Hinsdale, Ph.D., LL.D.

and, Education according to Nature.

Thomas Davidson, M.A., LL.D.
;

By

In preparation.

PESTALOZZI;

and the Modern Elementary School.

AL A. Pinloche, Professor

in the

Univcrsiiy of

THE STORY OF THE GREEKS.

Crown

Svo, with Illustr.itions.

3s.

By H. A. Gueriser.

6d.

THE STORY OF THE ROMANS.

Crown

By

Lille.

By

II.

A. Gueruer.

8vo.

ARABIC AUTHORS: A
Literature.

By

F. F.

M.inual of Arabian

Arbuthnot,

"Persian Portraits," &c.

History and

M.R..\.S., Autlior of " Early Ideas/'

Svo, cloth,

5^.

MR. HEINEMANN'S LIST.

21

OUTLINES OF THE EARTH'S HISTORY. A

Study in Physiography. By Nathaniel
with Ten full-page Illustrations. 7^. 6d.

Popular
Southgate Shaler. 8vo,

EVOLUTIONAL ETHICS AND ANIMAL PSYCHology.

By E. P. Evans. Crown 8vo,
MOVEMENT. Translated from the French of E. Marev,
gj.

By Eric Pritchard, M.A., M.B., Oxon.

with 170 Illustrations,

I^UMEN.

In

One Volume, crown

8vo,

6d.

-js.

By Camille Flammarion.

Authorised Translation

from the French by A. A. M. and R. M. With portions of the last

chapter written specially for this edition. Crown 8vo, 3^. 6d.

THE SPEECH OF MONKEYS.

Garner.

Crown

8vo, ts.

By

Professor

R. L.

6d

HEINEMANN'S SCIENTIFIC HANDBOOKS.

THE BIOLOGICAL PROBLEM OF TO-DAY: Preformation or Epigenesis? Authorised Translation from the German of
Prof. Dr. Oscar Hertwig, of the University of Berlin. By P. Chalmers
Mitchell, M. A., Oxoa. With a Preface by the Translator. Crown 8vo.
3J. (>d.

MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY.
Ph.D., F.R.S. (Edin.), F.C.S.

Crown

By A.

B.

Griffiths,

8vo, cloth, Illustrated,

js.

6d.

Pharmaceutical J onnal. "The subject is treated mors thoroughly and

completely than in any similar work published in this coimtry."

MANUAL OF ASSAYING

GOLD, SILVER, COPPER,

Tin, and Lead Ores.

By Walter Lee Brown, B.Sc.
Revised,
Corrected, and considerably Enlarged, and with chapters on the Assaying
of Fuels, Iron and Zinc Ores, &c.
By A. B. Griffiths, Ph.D., F.R.S.
(Edin.), F.C.S.
Crown 8vo, cloth. Illustrated, 7J. 6i/.

GEODESY.
trated,

By

J.

Howard

Gore.

Crown

8vo, cloth, Illus-

'^s.

THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF

Arthur

GASES.

L. Kimball, of the Johns Hopkins University.

By

Crown 8vo

cloth. Illustrated, 5^.

HEAT AS A FORM OF ENERGY.

Thurston,

of Cornell University.

Crown

By

Professor R,

H.

8vo, cloth. Illustrated, 5^.

Xaw.
A SHORT TREATISE OF BELGIAN LAW AND
Legal
Procedure.

From a

Practical Standpoint, for the Guidance of

and Bankers, and British Residents in Belgium.
Fcap. 8vo, paper, is. 6d.

British Traders, Patentees,

By Gaston de Leval.

PRISONERS ON OATH, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

By Sir Herbert Stephen, Bart. 8vo, boards,
net.
THE ARBITRATOR'S MANUAL. Under the London
xs.

Chamber of Arbitration. Being a Practical Treatise on the Power and

Duties of an Arbitrator, with the Rules and Procedure of the Court of
Arbitration, and the Forms.
By Joseph Seymour Salaman, Author of
' Trade Marks,"
&c. Fcap. 3vo, y. 6d.

.1/7?.

HEINEMANN'S

LIST.

jffctf on -{popular 65, IRorels.

a Romance of the French Revolution.

THE TERROR;
Femx Ghas.

IJy

VIA LUCIS. By Kassandra Vivaria.

THE SCOURGE-STICK. By Mrs. CAMrr.EU.

Praed,

THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH. By Gaiiriele d"An.\unTHE CHILD OF PLEASURE. By Gakriele D'Annunzio.

THE DULL MISS ARCHINARD. By Anne Douglas
Sedgwick.
THE BROOM OF THE WAR-GOD. By II. N. BrailsZIO.

OKD.

GOD'S FOUNDLING. By

A.

J.

Dawso.v.

THE NIGGER OF THE "NARCISSUS."

By Joseph

Con RAO.

EQUALITY.

By Edward Bellamy, Author

of

"Looking

Richard

Harding

Ilnckward."

SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE.

By

Davis.

THE THIRD VIOLET. By Stephen Crane.

THE OPEN BOAT. By Stephen Crane.
PICTURES OF WAR.
Little

Regiment, &c.).

(The Red Badge of Courage, The

l^y

SiKrnr.N

Craxe

A ROMANCE OF THE FIRST CONSUL.

By xMatilda

Malling.

THE MINISTER OF STATE. By J. A. Ste uart.

THE LAKE OF WINE. By Bernard Capes.
EZEKIEL'S SIN. By J. H. Pearce.
A CHAMPION IN THE SEVENTIES.

By Edith A.

Harnett.

THE
THE
THE
THE

FOURTH NAPOLEON.

By Charles Benham.

GADFLY. By E. L. Voynich.
CAPTAIN OF THE PARISH. ByJOHNQuiNE.

LONDONERS:

An

Absurdity.

By Robert IIichens.

FLAMES. By Robert Hichens.

THE FOLLY OF EUSTACE. By Robert Hichens.
AN IMAGINATIVE MAN. By Robert Hichens.

THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT.

SUTCLID

E,

By IIali.iweli

MR. HEINEMANN'S LIST.

^fiction popular

23

IRorcls.

(55.

PHASES OF AN INFERIOR PLANET.

By Ellen

Glasgow.

GLORIA MUNDI. By Harold

ILLUMINATION. By Harold

HERBERT VANLENNERT.

Frederic,

[/n preparation.

Frederic.

By

C. F.

Keary.

ANDREA. By Percy White.

CORRUPTION. By Percy White.
MR. BAILEY-MARTIN. By Percy White.

With

THE FREEDOM OF HENRY MEREDYTH.

Portrait.

By M.

Hamilton-.

McLEOD OF THE CAMERONS. By M. Hamilton.

A SELF-DENYING ORDINANCE. By M. Hamilton.

THE DRONES MUST DIE. By Max Nordau.

THE MALADY OF THE CENTURY. By Max Nordau.
A COMEDY OF SENTIMENT. By Max Nordau.
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS. By H. G. Wells.
THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU. By H.G.Wells.
THE GODS ARRIVE. By Annie E. Holdsworth.
THE YEARS THAT THE LOCUST HATH EATEN.
By Annie E. Holdsworth.

IN

HASTE AND AT LEISURE.

Author

of " Joshu.a

By Mrs. Lynn Linton,

Davidson," &c.

CLEO THE MAGNIFICENT.

THE WORLD AND A MAN.

By

Z. Z.

By

Z. Z.

A DRAMA IN DUTCH. By Z. Z.
BENEFITS FORGOT. By Wolcott
A PASTORAL PLAYED OUT. By

Balestier.

M. L. Pendered.

CHIMiERA. By F. Mabel Robinson.

MISS GRACE OF ALL SOULS'. By W. Edwards

Tire-

MR.

S4

fiction.

HEINEMANNS
-popular

LIST.

65.

1l-"lovcl3.

A SUPERFLUOUS WOMAN. By Emma Brookk.

TRANSITION. By the Author of " A Supernucus Wo-nan."
LIFE THE ACCUSER. The Author of "A Superllu^us
Womaji.

COTTAGE FOLK.

By

Mrs. Comy.ns Carr.

WITHOUT SIN. By Martin Pritchard.

THE TWO MAGICS. By Henry James.
J.

WHAT

MAISIE KNEW.

By Henry James.

THE OTHER HOUSE. By Henry James.

THE SPOILS OF POYNTON. By Henry James.
EMBARRASSMENTS. By Henry James.
TERMINATIONS.

By Henry James.

THE FAILURE OF SIBYL FLETCHER.

By Adelinb

Sergeant.

OUT OF DUE SEASON. By Adeline Sergeant.

LAST STUDIES. By Hubert Crackanthorpe. With
Introduction by Mr.

Henky James, and

SENTIMENTAL STUDIES.
SAINT IVES.

an

a Portrait.

By Hubert Crackanthori-e.

By Rohert Louis Stevenson.

THE EBB-TIDE.

By Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd

O.SUOURN'E.

THE CHRISTIAN. By Hall Caine.

THE MANXMAN. By Hall Caine.
THE BONDMAN. A New Saga. By Hall Caine.
THE SCAPEGOAT. By Hall Caine.
JELDER CONKLINj
Harris.

and other

Stories.

By

Frank

MR. heinemann'S list.

fiction

popular

25

65, IRovels.

THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN TREASURE. By Maxwell Gray.

THE "LAST SENTENCE. By Maxwell Gray. Author
of The Silence of Dean Maitland," &c.
THE BETH BOOK. By Sarah Grand.
THE HEAVENLY TWINS. By Sarah Grand.
IDEALA. By Sarah Grand.

OUR MANIFOLD NATURE. By Sarah Grand. Willi

of the Author.
a
THE STORY OF A MODERN WOMAN. By Ella
Hepworth Dixox.
AT THE GATE OF SAMARIA. By W. J. Locke.
A DAUGHTER OF THIS WORLD. By F. Battershall.
ON THE FACE OF THE WATERS. By Flora Annie
Portrait

Steel.

THE POTTER'S THUMB. By Flora Annie Steel.

FROM THE FIVE RIVERS. By Flora Annie Steel.
IN THE PERMANENT WAY. By Flora Annie Steel.
RELICS.

Fragments of a

THE MASTER.

By

I.

Life.

By Frances Macnab.

Zangwill,

With

Portrait.

CHILDREN OF THE GHETTO. By L Zangwill,

THE PREMIER AND THE PAINTER. A Fantastic
Romance.

By I. Zangwill and Loiis Cowe.v.

DREAMERS OF THE GHETTO. By Zangwill.

THE KING OF SCHNORRERS, GROTESQUES AND
I.

FANT.ASIES. By

I.

Za.sgwill. Witii Ninety-eight Illustrations.

THE CELIBATES' CLUB. By L Zangwill.

THE RECIPE FOR DIAMONDS. By C.

J.

Cutcliffe

Hyne.

MARIETTA'S MARRIAGE.

THE DANCER

By W. E. Norris.

YELLOW. By W. E. Norris.
A VICTIM OF GOOD LUCK. By W. E. Norris.
THE COUNTESS RADNA. By W. E. Norris.
THE WIDOWER. By AY. E. Norris. [/ Autumn,
IN

(/le

MR. IIEINEMANN'S LIST.

26

fiction. popular cs. mo\^cl9.

THE NAULAHKA. A Tale of West and East.

ami Woi.cott Bai.Estier.
A COURT INTRIGUE. By Basil Thomson,

By RUDYARD

Kiri.iNi;

KING CIRCUMSTANCE.

THE MAN OF STRAW.

TONY DRUM. By EuwiN

By Edwin PuGH.
By Edwin Bugh.
\ln preparation.

Pugii.

CHUN-TI-KUNG.

By Claude Rees.
THE SALT. By C. E. Rahmond.
BATTLE AND A BOY. By Blanche Willis Howard.

BELOW
A

With

Tliii-ty-uire lUustralions

by A. Mac-Niell-BareOUR.

ll>opular ^s, IRovels.

THE SECRET OF NARCISSE.

Crown

buckram,

3vo,

Edmund

Gosse.

By Vernon Lee, Author of " Hauntings," &c.

VANITAS,
Crown

By

3.?.

Svo, cloth, 5^.

THE ATTACK ON THE

MILL.

Wiih

By Emile Zola.

and Five exquisitely printeil Coloured Plates,

from Original Drawings by E. Courboin. In One Volume, 410, 5^.

Twenty-one

Ilhistrations,

IP>opuIai* 35. 6b. H'lovels.

HER LADYSHIP'S ELEPHANT. By David

Wei.ls.
THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS. By

Dwight

Edmond

About.

MRS. JOHN FOSTER.

IN

SUMMER

ISLES.

By Ch.vrles Granville.
By Burton Dicns.

MR. BLAKE OF NEWMARKET. By E. H. Cooper.

A PINCHBECK GODDESS. By Mrs. Fleming (Alice

M.

KipHng).

THE OUTSPAN. Tales of South Africa.

FlTZI'ATKICK.
THE REDS OF THE MIDI, an Episode
Revolution.

Tr.Tnslatcd from the

Provengal of

By

of the

Kcli.x

Percy

J.

Gras.

French
Ijy

Mrs.

Catiierink \. Janvier.

DAUGHTER. By J. II. Pearce,

INCONSEQUENT LIVES, A Village Chroiiicle.
ELI'S

Peakce.

By

J.

IL

MR. IIEINEMANN'S LIST.

^fiction

ipopular

THE KING'S JACKAL.

With Four

Illusirations

Author of
^

"No

35. eb. IRovels.

By Richard Harding

by CuAKLhs

HER OWN FOLK.

Dana

Tr.in=lated

By Hector Malot,
Mary Loyd.
The Blind Mother,

by Lady

CAPT'N DAVY'S HONEYMOON,

and The Last Confession. By

A MARKED MAN:

Davif.s.

Gibson.

(En Famille.)

Relations."

27

Hall Caine.

Some Episodes

in

his

Life.

By Ada

Camlkii CE.

THE THREE MISS

KINGS.

By Ada Cambridge.

A LITTLE MINX. By Ada Cambridge.

NOT ALL IN VAIN. By Ada Cambridge.
A KNIGHT OF THE WHITE FEATHER. By Tasma.
UNCLE PIPER OF PIPER'S HILL. By Tasma.
THE PENANCE OF PORTIA JAMES. By Tasma.

THE COPPERHEAD and other Stories of the North

during the American War. By Harold Frederic.
THE RETURN OF THE O'MAHONY. By Harold
;

Frederic.

With

Illustrations.

THE VALLEY. By Harold Frederic. With IllusTHE SURRENDER OF MARGARET BELLARMINE.

By Adeline Sergeant.
A PENITENT SOUL. Being the
THE STORY OF Stephen
Lynnbridge,
the
Minister
Dart,
IN

trations.

Private Papers of Mr.

County of Lincoln. By

in

at

late

Adeline Sergeant.

THE O'CONNORS OF BALLINAHINCH. By

Hungerford.
NOR WIFE, NOR MAID. By Mrs. HuNGERFCiD.
THE HOYDEN. By Mrs. Hungerford.
MAMMON. A Novel. By Mrs. Alexander.
DAUGHTERS OF MEN. By Hannah Lynch.
STORIES FOR NINON. By Emii.e Zola. With
by Will Rothenstein.
THE TOWER OF TADDEO. By Ouida.

AVENGED ON

SOCIETY.

By H.

F.

Mrs.

a Portrait

Wocd.

APPASSIONATA A Musician's Story. By Elsa D'Esterke

Keeling.
A COMEDY OF MASKS. By Ernest Dowson and
:

Arthi'r Moore.

MR. HEINEM ANN'S LIST.

28

jfiction. ipopular 35. 6^. 1Florel3

A ROMANCE OF THE CAPE FRONTIER.

By Brrtram

MiTFOKO.

'TWEEN SNOW AND

i77.

FIRE.

Tale of the Kafir

War

of

By 1!ektkam Mitford.

ORIOLE'S DAUGHTER,

By Jessie Fothergill.

THE MASTER OF THE MAGICIANS.

Stuart

1'iiei.is

By Elizabeth

and Herbf.kt D. Ward.

DONALD MARCY. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.

THE HEAD OF THE FIRM. By Mrs. Riddell.
A CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE. By G. Colmore.
A DAUGHTER OF MUSIC. By G. Colmore.
ACCORDING TO

JOHN. By Am^lie

ST.

KITTY'S FATHER.

Rives.

By Frank Barrett.

THE JUSTIFICATION OF ANDREW LEBRUN.

F.

By

Barrett.

A QUESTION OF TASTE. By M.\arten Maartens.

COME LIVE WITH ME AND BE MY LOVE. By
Robert Buchanan.

IN

THE DWELLINGS OF SILENCE. A

Romance

By Walker Kennedy.

of Russia.

LOS CERRITOS.

Romance

of the

Modern Time.

By

Gertrude Franklin Atherton.

WRECKAGE,

and other

Stories.

By Hubert Crackan-

THORPE.

MADEMOISELLE

MISS, and

other Stories.

By Henry

Harland.

THE ATTACK ON THE

of War.
Zola by

By Emile Zola.

Edmund

MILL, and

With an Essay on

other

Sketches

the short stories of

M.

Gosse.

THE AVERAGE WOMAN. By Wolcott Balestier.

With an Introduction by Henry James.
BLESSED ARE THE POOR. By Francois CorrifE.
With an Introduction by T. P. O'Con.nor.
PERCHANCE TO DREAM, and other Stories. By Margaret
Briscoe.
WRECKERS AND METHODISTS. Cornish Stories. By
S.

H. D. LowRY

MR. H2INEMANN'S LIST.

3f tctionIbeineinaun's

29

5ntcntational Xibrar^*

J^ew Revieiu. " If you have any pernicious remnants of literary chauvinism
I hope it will not survive the series of foreign classics of which Mr. Williaro
Heinemann, aided by Mr. Edmund Gosse, is publishing translations to the greaS
contentment of all lovers of literature."
Each Volume has an Introduction stecially written by the Editor,

Mr EDMUND GOSSE.

Cloth, 3s. 6d.

IN GOD'S WAY.

Paper Covers,

From

the

2S.

6d.

Norwegian of BjOrnstjernb

BjORNSON.

PIERRE AND JEAN.

From

the French of

GUY DE Mau-

passant.

From the German of Karl Emil

THE CHIEF JUSTICE.
Franzos, Author of " For the Right," &c.
WORK WHILE YE HAVE THE LIGHT. From the
Russian of Count Leo Tolstoy.

FANTASY. From the Italian of Matilde Serao.

FROTH. From the Spanish of Don Armando

Palacio-

Valdes.

FOOTSTEPS OF FATE.

From

Dutch

the

of

Louis-

COUPERUS.

PEPITA JIMENEZ.

From

the Spanish of

Juan Valera.

THE COMMODORE'S DAUGHTERS. From the Norwegian of Jonas Lie.

THE HERITAGE OF THE KURTS. From the Norwegian.
of

BjORNSTJERNE BjORNSON.

LOU. From the German of Baron Alexander von

DONA LUZ. From the Spanish of Juan Valera.

Roberts,

THE JEW. From the Polish of Joseph Ignatius Kraszew^sku

UNDER THE YOKE. From the Bulgarian of Ivan Vazoff.
FAREWELL LOVE From the Italian of Matilde Serao.
THE GRANDEE. From the Spanish of Don Armando
Palacio-Vald6s.
A COMMON STORY. From the Russian of Ivan GontCHAROrF.
WOMAN'S FOLLY. From the Italian of Gemma Ferruggia.
!

SIREN VOICES (NIELS LYHNE).

J. P.

From

the Danish of

Jacobsen.

NIOBE.

From

the

Norwegian of Jonas Lie.

THE OLD ADAM AND THE NEW EVE.

German

of

Rudolf Golm.

From

the

MR. HEINEMANN'S LIST.

30

ifiction Xlbe DMonecr Series.

Cloth, 3s. net.
TA^ Atheturum."

Paper Covers,

2s. 6d.

net.

keeps up to the present high level of inlercst,

novel readers will have fresh cause for gratitude lo Mr. Heiiiemmn."

The Daily
romance."

If this series

Tclc^>-aJ>h.

"Mr.

Ileinemann's

The Oiserver." The smart Pioneer

Series."

The Matuhestcr Courier. "The Pioneer

many other of Mr. Heinemann's ventures."
The Clas^^oiu Herald. " This verj- clever

The

Sheffield Teles^raph."

Black and iVhile." The

T/ie Liverfool

a character of

its

The

genial aurscry of jp-tD-dite

Series promises to be asorliji.iil as

series."

refreshingly original Pioneer Series."

brilliant

Pioneer Series."

Ulercury." E:\ch succeeding issue of the Pioneeown and a special attractiveness."

JOANNA TRAILL, SPINSTER.

By A.nnie

Serii;i

E.

has

Holds-

WOKTH.

GEORGE MANDEVILLE'S HUSBAND. By C. E.

Raimond.
THE WINGS OF ICARUS. Dy Laureinxe Alma-Tadema.
THE GREEN CARNATION. By Rodert IIichens.
AN ALTAR OF EARTH. By Thymol Monk.
A STREET IN SUBURBIA. By E. W. Bugh.
THE NEW MOON. By C. E. Raimond.
WILLY'S STORY. By Mrs. Mo.ntague Crackanthorpe.
MRS. MUSGRAVE AND HER HUSBAND.
Richard Marsh.

By

THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE. By SrEniEN Crane.

THE DEMAGOGUE AND LADY PHAYRE. By
William
I.ocke.
HER OWN DEVICES. By C. G. Co.MnoN.
J.

PAPIER MACHE.

By Charles Allen-.

THE NEW VIRTUE. By M,s. Oscar Beringer.

ACROSS AN ULSTER BOG. By M. Hamilton.
ONE OF GOD'S DILEMMAS. By Allen Upward.
THE LITTLE REGIMENT. By Stei'hex Crane.
LOVE FOR A KEY. By G. Colmore.
YEKL. A

Tale of the Nl-w York Ghetto.

A MAN WITH A MAID.

By

Mrs.

By A. Cahan.

Henry Dudeneit

MR. HEIN EM ANN'S LIST.

fiction

price

LITTLE JOHANNES.
the

Dutch by Clara Bell.

31

33. net.

By F. Van Eeden. Translated from

Wkh an Introduction by Andrew Lang.

i6ino, cloth, sliver top, 2^. net.

THE NOVELS OF BJORNSTJERNE BJORNSON.

Uniform Edition.

Edited by EdmU-VD GossE.

Foap. 3vo, cloth,

3J.

net

each volume.

SYNNOVE SOLBAKKEN.
Essay by

II.

III.

IV.

V.
VI.

Edmlnd

With Introductory

GoiSE, and a Portrait of the Author.

ARNE.
A HAPPY BOY.
THE FISHER LASS.
THE BRIDAL MARCH AND A DAY.

MAGNHILD AND DUST.

VII.

CAPTAIN MANSANA, AND MOTHER'S

VIII.

ABSALOM'S HAIR, AND A PAINFUL

HANDS.

MEMORY.

THE NOVELS OF IVAN TURGENEV.

Translated by
each volume.
tion.

I.

RUDIN.

Constance Garnett.

With a

Portrait

of

Uniform Edi-

Fcap. Svo, cloth,

the

Author

3.J.

net.

and an

Introduction by Stepniak.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

A HOUSE OF GENTLEFOLK.

ON THE EVE.
FATHERS AND CHILDREN.
SMOKE.
VIRGIN SOIL. (Two Volumes.)
IX. A SPORTSMAN'S SKETCHES.

VI., VII.

VIII.,

(Two

Volumes).

X.
XI.

XII.

DREAM TALES AND OTHER FANTASIES.

THE TORRENTS OF SPRING.
A LEAR OF THE STEPPES.

MR. JIEINEMANNS LIST

32

fiction potnilar

THE TIME MACHINE.

* Also in paper,

29.

By H. G. Wklls.

is. (xi.

THE DOMINANT SEVENTH: A

Ka IE

Bevels,

C^^.

By

Musical Story.

Elizadetii Clakkk.

price 2s.

MAGGIE.

By Steihkn Crank.

{popular Sbillino JSooI^s.

PRETTY MISS SMITH.

of

"The House on

the

Marsh,"

By Florence Warden, Author

"A

Witch of the

THE MOMENT AFTER: A

Tale

of

Hills,"

the

&c
By

Unseen.

Robert Buchanan.

CLUES;

or, Leaves from a Chief Constable's Note-Book.

By William Henderson, Chief Constable of Edinburgh.

THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW.

Edited by David A.
Published monthly.

London:

WILLIAM HEINEMANN,

Munro.

Price

21

2S. 6d.

Bedford Street,

W.C

'ht
^

University of California

^^AC^^.^
SOUTHERN REGIONAL L'BRARY
CA 900^:'* ijoo
Ant Hiloard Avenue, Los Angeles,
405

H"gj;^^JJ;^h,3 n^aterial to the library

from which

Series 9>*o^

It

was borrowed.

UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY

AA

000 379 228